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CVE-2001-1125: Symantec Liveupdate: Remote code execution

CVE-2001-1125 is rated critical with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 and affects Symantec Liveupdate. Per its scoring, it can be exploited over the network, without authentication, without any user interaction. The scored impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability is the highest available.

Vulnerability description

Symantec LiveUpdate before 1.6 does not use cryptography to ensure the integrity of download files, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via DNS spoofing of the update.symantec.com site.

Severity breakdown

CVSS v3.1 9.8: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

• Attack vector: Network. Exploitable remotely over the network, with no need for local or physical access.
• Attack complexity: Low. No special conditions; the attack can be repeated reliably.
• Privileges required: None. No account or prior access is needed.
• User interaction: None. No action from any user is needed.
• Scope: Unchanged. Impact stays within the vulnerable component.
• Confidentiality impact: High. Total loss of confidentiality; sensitive data can be fully disclosed.
• Integrity impact: High. Total loss of integrity; data or system state can be fully modified.
• Availability impact: High. Total loss of availability; the component can be shut down.

Underlying weakness

CWE-494: Download of Code Without Integrity Check

The product downloads source code or an executable from a remote location and executes the code without sufficiently verifying the origin and integrity of the code.

Affected products

• Symantec Liveupdate: before 1.6

References

• http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/218717
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/3403
• https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/7235
• http://www.sarc.com/avcenter/security/Content/2001.10.05.html