# CVE-2017-15526: Null dereference in Symantec Endpoint Encryption

> A null pointer dereference in Symantec Endpoint Encryption allows attackers to trigger a crash and potentially escalate privileges.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 13 Nov 2017
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gmf5-77wc-rpjr

## What is CVE-2017-15526?

CVE-2017-15526 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Symantec Endpoint Encryption, published on 13 Nov 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Prior to SEE v11.1.3MP1, Symantec Endpoint Encryption can be susceptible to a null pointer de-reference issue, which can result in a NullPointerException that can lead to a privilege escalation scenario.

Weakness: CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-15526?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Symantec Endpoint Encryption.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-15526?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-15526 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-15526 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-15526 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Symantec Endpoint Encryption

- [CVE-2019-9702](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-9702/): Privilege escalation in Endpoint Encryption (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2019-9703](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-9703/): Symantec Endpoint Encryption, prior to SEE 11.3.0, may be susceptible to a privilege escalation vulnerability, which is a type of issue that (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2019-9694](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-9694/): Privilege escalation in Symantec Endpoint Encryption (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2015-8156](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-8156/): Privilege escalation in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2017-13683](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-13683/): Information disclosure in Symantec Endpoint Encryption (medium 5.7)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-15526 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-15526 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Symantec Endpoint Encryption, published on 13 Nov 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-15526 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Symantec Endpoint Encryption. 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-2017-15526/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-15526/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-15526
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-15526
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-15526

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-15526/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.