CVE-2017-15527 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

CVE-2017-15527 was published on November 20, 2017, and affects Symantec Management Console versions prior to ITMS 8.1 RU4. The vulnerability involves a directory traversal exploit that could be exploited due to inadequate security validation of user input.

Understanding CVE-2017-15527

This CVE entry highlights a security vulnerability in Symantec Management Console that could lead to a directory traversal attack.

What is CVE-2017-15527?

CVE-2017-15527 refers to a vulnerability in Symantec Management Console versions prior to ITMS 8.1 RU4 that allows for a directory traversal exploit. This type of attack occurs when user input is not properly validated, enabling malicious actors to navigate to sensitive directories.

The Impact of CVE-2017-15527

The vulnerability could potentially allow unauthorized access to sensitive files and directories on the affected system, compromising the confidentiality and integrity of data.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-15527

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE, including the vulnerability description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

Before the release of ITMS 8.1 RU4, the Symantec Management Console was susceptible to a directory traversal exploit. This exploit arises from inadequate security validation of user-supplied input file names, allowing characters that signify "traverse to parent directory" to be passed to file APIs.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Symantec Management Console
Vendor: Symantec Corporation
Versions Affected: Prior to ITMS 8.1 RU4

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by manipulating input file names to traverse to unauthorized directories, potentially accessing sensitive information.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-15527 involves immediate steps and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Symantec promptly.
Implement strict input validation mechanisms to prevent directory traversal attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address potential weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that the Symantec Management Console is updated to ITMS 8.1 RU4 or later to address the directory traversal vulnerability.