SYM05-010
June 10, 2005
Symantec pcAnywhere (run on connect) privilege escalation
 
Revision History
None
 
Risk Impact
Medium
 
Details
Symantec pcAnywhere provides the option to run user defined commands when the remote 
host is connected. Enabling the “Launch with Windows” from the Host Properties Settings 
tab configures the pcAnyware host to run as a service with Local System privileges. A 
non-privileged user with physical access to the system can potentially manipulate the 
Caller Properties feature to run arbitrary commands that will be executed with system 
level privileges when the system is restarted. This could potentially allow them to 
gain unauthorized Local System privilege on the targeted system.
 
Symantec Response
Symantec has released a patch to address this issue. The patch can be downloaded from 
the Symantec technical support site. This patch ensures all commands launched through 
"Command to execute after connection" are launched within the scope of the logged in 
user’s access rights.
Symantec is not aware of any active attempts against or organizations impacted by this 
issue.
 
Affected Products (Consumer and Enterprise versions)
Symantec pcAnywhere All unsupported versions prior to 10.5x Symantec pcAnywhere version 
10.5x Symantec pcAnywhere version 11x
 
Products Not Affected
Symantec pcAnywhere 11.5
 
Note: Only Symantec products indicated above are potentially vulnerable. All other 
Symantec products are NOT affected.
 
Recommendations:
Patches for this issue can be downloaded from the following locations:
 
For consumer versions of Symantec pcAnywhere:
http://www.symantec.com/techsupp/files/pca/index.html
 
For enterprise versions of Symantec pcAnywhere:
http://www.symantec.com/techsupp/enterprise/products/spca/files.html
 
Select your supported version of Symantec pcAnywhere and follow the instructions to 
download the appropriate update.
 
As a part of normal best practices, users should keep vendor-supplied patches for all 
application software and operating systems up-to-date. Symantec strongly recommends any 
affected customers update their product immediately to protect against these types of 
threats.
 
Symantec takes the security and proper functionality of its products very seriously. As 
founding members of the Organization for Internet Safety (OISafety), Symantec follows 
the principles of responsible disclosure. Symantec also subscribes to the vulnerability 
guidelines outlined by the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC). Please 
contact secure@symantec.com if you feel you have discovered a potential or actual 
security issue with a Symantec product. A Symantec Product Security team member will 
contact you regarding your submission.
 
Symantec has developed a Product Vulnerability Handling Process document outlining the 
process we follow in addressing suspected vulnerabilities in our products. We support 
responsible disclosure of all vulnerability information in a timely manner to protect 
Symantec customers and the security of the Internet as a result of vulnerability. This 
document is available from the location provided below.
 
Symantec strongly recommends using encrypted email for reporting vulnerability 
information to secure@symantec.com. The Symantec Product Security PGP key can be 
obtained from the location provided below.
Symantec-Product-Vulnerability-Response Symantec Vulnerability Response Policy 	
Symantec Product Vulnerability Management PGP Key Symantec Product Vulnerability 
Management PGP Key
 
Copyright (c) 2005 by Symantec Corp.
Permission to redistribute this alert electronically is granted as long as it is not 
edited in any way unless authorized by Symantec Security Response. Reprinting the whole 
or part of this alert in any medium other than electronically requires permission from 
secure@symantec.com.
 
Disclaimer
The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing 
based on currently available information. Use of the information constitutes acceptance 
for use in an AS IS condition. There are no warranties with regard to this information. 
Neither the author nor the publisher accepts any liability for any direct, indirect, or 
consequential loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on, this information.
 
Symantec, Symantec products, Symantec Security Response, and SymSecurity are registered 
trademarks of Symantec Corp. and/or affiliated companies in the United States and other 
countries. All other registered and unregistered trademarks represented in this 
document are the sole property of their respective companies/owners.