# CVE-2018-12245: Other in Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP)

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code via DLL preloading during the installation of Symantec Endpoint Protection trialware.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 29 Nov 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-p2w7-fq3g-9jx5

## What is CVE-2018-12245?

CVE-2018-12245 is a high-severity vulnerability in Symantec Endpoint Protection, published on 29 Nov 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Symantec Endpoint Protection prior to 14.2 MP1 may be susceptible to a DLL Preloading vulnerability, which in this case is an issue that can occur when an application being installed unintentionally loads a DLL provided by a potential attacker. Note that this particular type of exploit only manifests at install time; no remediation is required for software that has already been installed. This issue only impacted the Trialware media for Symantec Endpoint Protection, which has since been updated.

Weakness: CWE-426 (Untrusted Search Path)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-12245?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Symantec Endpoint Protection.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-12245?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-12245 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-12245 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-12245 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Symantec Endpoint Protection

- [CVE-2012-0295](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-0295/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2018-5237](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-5237/): Privilege escalation in Symantec Endpoint Protection (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-5836](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5836/): Privilege escalation in Symantec Endpoint Protection (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2020-5837](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5837/): Path traversal in Symantec Endpoint Protection (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2020-5820](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5820/): Privilege escalation in Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) and Symantec Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition (SEP SBE) (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-12245 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-12245 is a high-severity vulnerability in Symantec Endpoint Protection, published on 29 Nov 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-12245 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Symantec Endpoint Protection. 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-2018-12245/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-12245/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-12245
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-12245
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-12245

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-12245/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.