CVE-2019-18374
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows attackers to bypass authentication controls in Symantec Critical System Protection (CSP), potentially gaining unauthorized access to protected systems. It affects organizations using CSP versions 8.0, 8.0 HF1, and 8.0 MP1 for endpoint security.
💻 Affected Systems
- Symantec Critical System Protection (CSP)
📦 What is this software?
Symantec Critical System Protection by Broadcom
View all CVEs affecting Symantec Critical System Protection →
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete compromise of protected systems, allowing attackers to disable security controls, install malware, or exfiltrate sensitive data.
Likely Case
Unauthorized access to CSP-managed endpoints, enabling privilege escalation and lateral movement within the network.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if network segmentation and additional authentication layers prevent access to critical systems.
🎯 Exploit Status
Authentication bypass vulnerabilities typically require some initial access but are straightforward to exploit once discovered.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 8.0 MP2 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://support.symantec.com/us/en/article.SYMSA1498.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download CSP 8.0 MP2 or later from Symantec support portal. 2. Backup current configuration. 3. Install the update following vendor documentation. 4. Restart CSP services and affected endpoints.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Network Segmentation
allIsolate CSP management interfaces from untrusted networks
Additional Authentication Layer
allImplement multi-factor authentication or VPN access for CSP management
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network access controls to limit who can reach CSP management interfaces
- Monitor CSP authentication logs for suspicious activity and failed login attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check CSP version via management console or command: scspadmin --versionCheck Version:
scspadmin --versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify version is 8.0 MP2 or later and test authentication controls📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual authentication patterns
- Successful logins from unexpected sources
- Failed authentication attempts followed by successful access
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected connections to CSP management ports (default 8443)
- Traffic patterns suggesting authentication bypass
SIEM Query:
source="csp" AND (event_type="authentication" AND result="success") | stats count by src_ip, user | where count > threshold