CVE-2020-5836 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Symantec Endpoint Protection, prior to version 14.3, has a vulnerability that can lead to an elevation of privilege.

Understanding CVE-2020-5836

Symantec Endpoint Protection prior to version 14.3 is susceptible to an elevation of privilege attack due to a specific issue.

What is CVE-2020-5836?

CVE-2020-5836 is a vulnerability in Symantec Endpoint Protection that allows a limited user to potentially reset the ACLs on a file when the Tamper Protection feature is disabled.

The Impact of CVE-2020-5836

This vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker to escalate their privileges on the system, potentially leading to unauthorized access and control.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-5836

Symantec Endpoint Protection's vulnerability has specific technical aspects that are important to understand.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Symantec Endpoint Protection, prior to version 14.3, enables a limited user to reset file ACLs when Tamper Protection is turned off.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Symantec Endpoint Protection
Versions Affected: Prior to 14.3

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by a limited user when the Tamper Protection feature is disabled, allowing for unauthorized ACL resets.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-5836 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Enable Symantec Endpoint Protection's Tamper Protection feature to prevent unauthorized ACL resets.
Update Symantec Endpoint Protection to version 14.3 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Symantec Endpoint Protection to ensure the latest security fixes are in place.
Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict user permissions and minimize the impact of potential privilege escalation.
Conduct security awareness training to educate users on best practices for system security.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that Symantec Endpoint Protection is regularly updated to the latest version to address security vulnerabilities and protect against potential threats.