CVE-2022-37017: Symantec Endpoint Protection Auth Bypass

CVE-2022-37017 Overview

CVE-2022-37017 is a Security Control Bypass vulnerability affecting Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) for Windows. This vulnerability allows threat actors to circumvent existing security controls, specifically targeting the Client User Interface Password protection and Policy Import/Export Password protection features when enabled. The flaw exists in SEP agent versions prior to 14.3 RU6 and 14.3 RU5 Patch 1.

Critical Impact

Attackers can bypass password-protected security controls in Symantec Endpoint Protection, potentially allowing unauthorized access to policy configurations and client interface settings without proper authentication.

Affected Products

• Broadcom Symantec Endpoint Protection (Windows) prior to version 14.3 RU6
• Broadcom Symantec Endpoint Protection (Windows) prior to version 14.3 RU5 Patch 1
• All Windows-based SEP deployments with Client UI Password protection or Policy Import/Export Password protection enabled

Discovery Timeline

• 2022-12-01 - CVE-2022-37017 published to NVD
• 2025-04-24 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2022-37017

Vulnerability Analysis

This Security Control Bypass vulnerability affects the password protection mechanisms within Symantec Endpoint Protection's Windows agent. The vulnerability specifically impacts two security features: the Client User Interface Password protection (which restricts end-user access to the SEP client interface) and the Policy Import/Export Password protection (which safeguards policy configuration transfers).

When these password protection features are enabled, administrators expect that unauthorized users cannot access the protected functionality without providing the correct password. However, this vulnerability allows threat actors to circumvent these authentication requirements, effectively rendering the password protection ineffective.

The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability means that exploitation does not require local access to the target system, increasing the potential attack surface for organizations running vulnerable SEP versions.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2022-37017 lies in improper implementation of the password verification mechanism for the Client User Interface and Policy Import/Export features. The security control bypass indicates that the authentication logic can be circumvented, allowing attackers to access protected functionality without providing valid credentials. This type of flaw typically occurs when authentication checks can be skipped, manipulated, or when the verification process contains logical errors that permit unauthorized access.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable over the network without requiring user interaction or prior privileges. An attacker targeting this vulnerability would focus on bypassing the password protection mechanisms that guard access to the SEP client interface or policy management features.

Successful exploitation could allow an attacker to:

• Access the Symantec Endpoint Protection client interface without knowing the administrator-defined password
• Import or export endpoint protection policies without proper authorization
• Modify security settings or disable protection features on affected endpoints
• Potentially weaken the overall security posture of protected systems

The attack requires that the target organization has enabled either the Client UI Password protection or Policy Import/Export Password protection features, as systems without these features enabled are not affected by this specific vulnerability.

Detection Methods for CVE-2022-37017

Indicators of Compromise

• Unauthorized access attempts to the SEP client interface on protected endpoints
• Unexpected policy import or export operations without corresponding administrator activity
• Anomalous modifications to SEP client configurations or security policies
• Authentication bypass patterns in SEP-related network traffic or logs

Detection Strategies

• Monitor SEP management server logs for policy changes or exports that don't correlate with authorized administrative actions
• Implement network traffic analysis to detect unusual communication patterns with SEP clients
• Review Windows Event Logs on endpoints for unexpected SEP configuration modifications
• Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify unauthorized access to SEP components

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging on Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager to capture detailed policy and configuration change events
• Configure alerts for any policy import/export operations, requiring manual verification of legitimacy
• Monitor endpoint health status for unexpected protection feature modifications
• Establish baseline behavior for SEP administrative activities to identify anomalies

How to Mitigate CVE-2022-37017

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade Symantec Endpoint Protection to version 14.3 RU6 or 14.3 RU5 Patch 1 or later immediately
• Audit all SEP policy configurations to identify any unauthorized changes that may have occurred
• Review access controls and network segmentation for SEP management infrastructure
• Consider temporarily disabling network access to SEP management interfaces until patches are applied

Patch Information

Broadcom has released security updates to address CVE-2022-37017. Organizations should update to Symantec Endpoint Protection version 14.3 RU6 or 14.3 RU5 Patch 1 or later. The official security advisory with patch details is available from Broadcom Security Advisory.

Workarounds

• Restrict network access to SEP clients and management servers using firewall rules and network segmentation
• Implement additional layers of authentication for administrative access to SEP infrastructure
• Monitor for suspicious activity targeting SEP components while awaiting patch deployment
• Consider deploying complementary security solutions to provide defense-in-depth protection

# Configuration example - Network isolation for SEP management
# Restrict access to SEP management ports at the firewall level
# Replace <SEPM_IP> with your SEP Manager IP address
# Replace <TRUSTED_ADMIN_NETWORK> with your admin network CIDR

# Example iptables rules for Linux-based firewalls
iptables -A INPUT -s <TRUSTED_ADMIN_NETWORK> -d <SEPM_IP> -p tcp --dport 8443 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -d <SEPM_IP> -p tcp --dport 8443 -j DROP