# CVE-2011-3478: Auth bypass in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code on Symantec pcAnywhere hosts by bypassing authentication filters via a crafted TCP session.

- **Severity:** Critical 10.0 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 25 Jan 2012
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-m4r6-h5gf-6mg9

## What is CVE-2011-3478?

CVE-2011-3478 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in n/a, published on 25 Jan 2012. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The host-services component in Symantec pcAnywhere 12.5.x through 12.5.3, and IT Management Suite pcAnywhere Solution 7.0 (aka 12.5.x) and 7.1 (aka 12.6.x), does not properly filter login and authentication data, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted session on TCP port 5631.

Weakness: CWE-287 (Improper Authentication)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2011-3478?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Symantec Pcanywhere.

## How do I fix CVE-2011-3478?

No fix has been published for CVE-2011-3478 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2011-3478 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2011-3478 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Symantec pcAnywhere 12.5.0 - 'Login' / 'Password' Remote Buffer Overflow (exploitdb)
- Symantec pcAnywhere 12.5.0 (Windows x86) - Remote Code Execution (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2000-0300](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2000-0300/): Weak cryptography in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2005-3934](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-3934/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2006-3784](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-3784/): Privilege escalation in n/a (high 7.2)
- [CVE-2005-1970](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-1970/): Command injection in n/a (high 7.2)
- [CVE-2003-0936](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-0936/): Privilege escalation in n/a (high 7.2)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2011-3478 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2011-3478 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in n/a, published on 25 Jan 2012. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2011-3478 exists.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-3478/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-3478/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2011-3478
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-3478
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2011-3478

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-3478/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.