CVE-2025-13918: Symantec Endpoint Protection Privilege Escalation

CVE-2025-13918 Overview

CVE-2025-13918 is an Elevation of Privilege vulnerability affecting Symantec Endpoint Protection. This security flaw allows an attacker with existing high privileges to compromise the software application and gain elevated access to resources that are normally protected from an application or user. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management), indicating a fundamental weakness in how the application handles privilege boundaries.

Critical Impact

Attackers with local access and high privileges can escalate their access to achieve high-level confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact on the affected system.

Affected Products

• Symantec Endpoint Protection prior to 14.3 RU10 Patch 1
• Symantec Endpoint Protection prior to 14.3 RU9 Patch 2
• Symantec Endpoint Protection prior to 14.3 RU8 Patch 3

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-28 - CVE-2025-13918 published to NVD
• 2026-01-29 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-13918

Vulnerability Analysis

This Elevation of Privilege vulnerability exists within Symantec Endpoint Protection's privilege management implementation. The weakness stems from improper privilege management (CWE-269), where the application fails to adequately restrict privilege boundaries. An attacker who has already obtained high-level local access to a system can exploit this vulnerability to compromise the software application and gain access to protected system resources.

The local attack vector means the attacker must have existing access to the target system, either through direct physical access or through a prior compromise such as a malicious insider or a secondary vulnerability. While this limits the exposure compared to network-exploitable vulnerabilities, the potential impact is significant as successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability on the affected endpoint.

Root Cause

The vulnerability is rooted in improper privilege management within Symantec Endpoint Protection. The application does not properly enforce privilege boundaries, allowing users with high privileges to escalate their access beyond intended limitations. This type of weakness typically manifests when security controls do not adequately validate or restrict operations that can affect system-level resources.

Attack Vector

The attack requires local access to the affected system and the attacker must already possess high-level privileges. From this position, the attacker can exploit the improper privilege management flaw to gain elevated access to protected resources. The attack does not require user interaction, making it reliable once the prerequisites are met.

The vulnerability mechanism involves leveraging existing high privileges to bypass security controls within the Symantec Endpoint Protection application. For detailed technical information, refer to the Broadcom Security Advisory #36774.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-13918

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected privilege escalation events involving Symantec Endpoint Protection processes
• Anomalous access to protected system resources by SEP-related services
• Unusual modifications to security configurations or policies on endpoints
• Suspicious process behavior from Symantec Endpoint Protection components with elevated privileges

Detection Strategies

• Monitor Windows Security Event Logs for privilege escalation attempts involving smc.exe, ccSvcHst.exe, or other Symantec Endpoint Protection executables
• Implement endpoint detection rules to identify abnormal privilege usage patterns by SEP processes
• Deploy behavioral analysis to detect attempts to access protected resources outside normal SEP operations
• Review audit logs for unauthorized configuration changes to Symantec Endpoint Protection settings

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for Symantec Endpoint Protection management events
• Configure SentinelOne to monitor for suspicious privilege escalation patterns on endpoints running vulnerable SEP versions
• Establish baseline behavior for SEP processes and alert on deviations
• Monitor for attempts to modify or disable endpoint protection services

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-13918

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade Symantec Endpoint Protection to version 14.3 RU10 Patch 1 or later
• For environments running RU9, apply RU9 Patch 2
• For environments running RU8, apply RU8 Patch 3
• Audit systems for any signs of exploitation prior to patching
• Restrict local administrative access to endpoints to minimize the attack surface

Patch Information

Broadcom has released security patches to address this vulnerability. Organizations should apply the appropriate patch based on their current Symantec Endpoint Protection release update (RU) version:

For detailed patch information and download links, refer to the Broadcom Security Advisory #36774.

Workarounds

• Limit local administrative privileges on endpoints to reduce the attack surface
• Implement the principle of least privilege for all user accounts with access to systems running vulnerable SEP versions
• Deploy additional endpoint monitoring to detect privilege escalation attempts
• Segment critical systems and apply strict access controls until patches can be applied