Format string vulnerability in Symantec pcAnywhere before 12.5 SP1 allows local users to…
Priority LOW 21CWE-134Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Partial · Partial · Partial
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-134 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
Format string vulnerability in Symantec pcAnywhere before 12.5 SP1 allows local users to read and modify arbitrary memory locations, and cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact, via format string specifiers in the pathname of a remote control file (aka .CHF file).
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00383 32nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 9
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 12.5 | Vulnerable | Symantec |
| cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.0 | Vulnerable | Symantec |
| cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:10.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.5 | Vulnerable | Symantec |
| cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.0 | Vulnerable | Symantec |
| cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:11.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.0.1 | Vulnerable | Symantec |
| cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:11.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.5 | Vulnerable | Symantec |
| cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:11.5.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.5.1 | Vulnerable | Symantec |
| cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 12.0 | Vulnerable | Symantec |
| cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:12.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 12.1 | Vulnerable | Symantec |
- cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 12.5 Vulnerable ·Symantec
- cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.0 Vulnerable ·Symantec
- cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:10.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.5 Vulnerable ·Symantec
- cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.0 Vulnerable ·Symantec
- cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:11.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.0.1 Vulnerable ·Symantec
- cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:11.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.5 Vulnerable ·Symantec
- cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:11.5.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.5.1 Vulnerable ·Symantec
- cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 12.0 Vulnerable ·Symantec
- cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:12.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 12.1 Vulnerable ·Symantec
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2009-0538
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-c435-2cgx-2393
References
More Symantec Pcanywhere vulnerabilities
- TI-2011-03060 The host-services component in Symantec pcAnywhere 12.5.x through 12.5.3, and IT… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-2000-00300 The default encryption method of PcAnywhere 9.x uses weak encryption, which allows remote… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-2012-00277 Symantec pcAnywhere through 12.5.3, Altiris IT Management Suite pcAnywhere Solution 7.0… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-2005-03727 Buffer overflow in Symantec pcAnywhere 11.0.1, 11.5.1, and all other 32-bit versions… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.8
- TI-2012-00279 The awhost32 service in Symantec pcAnywhere through 12.5.3, Altiris IT Management Suite… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 5.0
- TI-2011-03061 Symantec pcAnywhere 12.5.x through 12.5.3, and IT Management Suite pcAnywhere Solution… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 6.8
Sources
- CVE-2009-0538 · CVE Program
- CVE-2009-0538 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-c435-2cgx-2393 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences