Symantec Security Advisory SYM06-005 - Backup Exec for Windows Servers

Document ID: 282254
http://support.veritas.com/docs/282254

E-Mail this document to a colleague

Details:

SYM06-005

March 16th, 2006

Backup Exec for Windows Servers: Media Server BENGINE (Job Engine) Service Job log Format String Overflow

Revision History

None

Severity

Low (network/system authorization and specific configuration required)

Overview

Backup Exec for Windows Servers Media Servers are susceptible to a format string vulnerability in the job log in the Job Engine service (BENGINE.EXE) when job logging is configured with "full details" enabled (not the default configuration). An authorized user on the network with a system configured for backup could potentially host a specifically-formatted file on their system. If the file name is properly mal-formatted AND the backup is being run with job logs enabled in Full Details mode, a malicious user could cause a denial of service (DoS) on the Media Server or may potentially be able to run arbitrary code on the system hosting the Media Server.

Affected Products

Backup Exec 10d (10.1) for Windows Servers rev. 5629

Backup Exec 10.0 for Windows Servers rev. 5520

Backup Exec 10.0 for Windows Servers rev. 5484

Backup Exec 9.1 for Windows Servers rev. 4691

Note: Product versions prior to those listed above are EOL (End of Life) for hotfix development. Customers running legacy product versions should upgrade to a version listed above and apply the appropriate updates.

Details

Symantec became aware of a format string vulnerability in the Job Engine service (bengine.exe) on Backup Exec for Windows Servers Media Server that is possible when backing up a file with an appropriately mal-formatted file name. The overflow ONLY occurs when the job log is configured to run in the "Full Detailed" mode. Full Detailed mode is not the default setting nor is it a commonly used setting as it requires an inordinate amount of disk space per file backed up and verified. However it may be used as a "debug" mode when necessary.

Successfully exploiting this issue requires network access and authorized access to a system identified for backup. A malicious user would have to place a specifically-configured file on the system and the Backup Exec for Windows Servers Media Server must have "Full Detailed" logging mode enabled for any possibility of exploiting of this issue. Running such a maliciously designed file would result in a denial of service on the Media Server or, if properly designed, might possibly allow arbitrary code to be run on the Media Server.

Symantec Response
Symantec Engineering verified this issue exists on the supported products identified above. Security updates are available for supported products. Symantec recommends all customers apply the latest updates for their supported product versions to protect against these types of threats.

Symantec knows of no attempts to exploit against this issue or of any adverse customer impact from this issue.

The following Hotfixes also address the issue described in Symantec Security Advisory SYM06-004, which is referenced in the Related Documents section at the bottom of this document.

Backup Exec 10d (10.1) for Windows Servers rev. 5629, Hotfix 24

http://support.veritas.com/docs/282377

Backup Exec 10.0 for Windows Servers rev. 5520, Hotfix 28

http://support.veritas.com/docs/282378

Backup Exec 10.0 for Windows Servers rev. 5484, Hotfix 33

http://support.veritas.com/docs/282259

Backup Exec 9.1 for Windows Servers rev. 4691, Hotfix 56

http://support.veritas.com/docs/282260

Mitigation

Do not use the "Full Details" logging option. Use the default setting or set logging details to any of the other three logging settings available.

Best Practices
As part of normal best practices, Symantec strongly recommends:

Restrict access to administration or management systems to privileged users.
Restrict remote access, if required, to trusted/authorized systems only.
Run under the principle of least privilege where possible to limit the impact of exploit by threats such as this.
Keep all operating systems and applications updated with the latest vendor patches.
Follow a multi-layered approach to security. Run both firewall and antivirus applications, at a minimum, to provide multiple points of detection and protection to both inbound and outbound threats.
Deploy network intrusion detection systems to monitor network traffic for signs of anomalous or suspicious activity. This may aid in detection of attacks or malicious activity related to exploitation of latent vulnerabilities

CVE

A CVE candidate number will be requested from The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) initiative. This advisory will be revised as required once the CVE candidate number has been assigned. This issue is a candidate for inclusion in the CVE list ( http://cve.mitre.org ), which standardizes names for security problems.

For a listing of all Backup Exec for Windows Servers 'Software & Security Alerts' go to the Backup Exec for Windows Servers area of the Support site and choose "Software & Security Alerts" or click the following URL: http://support.veritas.com/menu_ddProduct_BEWNT_view_ALERT.htm

Products Applied:
Backup Exec 10.0 5484, 10.0 5520, 10d (10.1) 5629, 9.1 4691
Backup Exec Small Business Server 10.0 5484, 10.0 5520, 10d (10.1) 5629, 9.1 4691

Last Updated: January 04 2010 01:45 PM GMT
Expires on: 09-09-2010

Subscribe to receive critical updates about this document

Subjects:
Backup Exec
   Application: Backup
   Publishing Status: Techalert
Backup Exec Small Business Server
   Application: Backup
   Publishing Status: Techalert

Languages:
English (US), French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean

Operating Systems:
Windows 2000

Advanced Server, Advanced Server Windows Powered, Datacenter Server, Professional, Server, Server Windows Powered

Windows XP

Pro 5.1

Windows Server 2003

DataCenter, DataCenter (IA64), DataCenter (x64), Enterprise (IA64), Enterprise (x64), Enterprise Server, Standard Server, Storage Server, Web Server

Windows Small Business Server 2003

Premium Edition, Standard Edition

Symantec World Headquarters:
20330 Stevens Creek Blvd. Cupertino, CA 95014
World Wide Web: http://www.symantec.com,
Tech Support Web: http://entsupport.symantec.com,
E-Mail Support: http://seer.entsupport.symantec.com/email_forms,
FTP: ftp://ftp.entsupport.symantec.com or http://ftp.entsupport.symantec.com

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE SYMANTEC SOFTWARE KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. SYMANTEC SOFTWARE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL SYMANTEC SOFTWARE OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES,EVEN IF SYMANTEC SOFTWARE OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.