Hacker hidey-hole found in Symantec product

Symantec has released an update to its popular Norton SystemWorks to fix a security problem that could be abused by cyber criminals to hide malicious software.

In the PC-tuning application, a feature called the Norton Protected Recycle Bin creates a hidden directory on Windows systems. The feature is meant to help people restore modified or deleted files but the hidden folder might not be scanned during scheduled or manual virus scans, Symantec said in an advisory released on Tuesday.

The security giant said: "This could potentially provide a location for an attacker to hide a malicious file on a computer," adding it is not aware of any attempts by hackers to conceal malicious code in the folder. "This update is provided proactively to eliminate the possibility of that type of activity," it said.

Symantec's alert has echoes of Sony BMG Music Entertainment's recent PC security fiasco. The record label was found to be shipping copy-protected CDs that planted so-called rootkit software on the computers that played them. The rootkit technology also offered a hiding place for malicious software.

When the recovery feature was first introduced, hiding the directory helped ensure a user would not accidentally delete the files in it, Symantec said.

The company said in its advisory: "In light of current techniques used by malicious attackers, Symantec has re-evaluated the value of hiding this directory."

Security monitoring company Secunia rates the issue "not critical". Symantec itself deems the risk impact "low".

Symantec credits Mark Russinovich, the Sysinternals researcher who also investigated the Sony rootkit, and F-Secure, a Finnish security company that has a rootkit detection product, for helping it address the SystemWorks issue.

The Norton update will display the previously hidden "NProtect" directory in the Windows interface, which will allow it to be scanned by antivirus products, Symantec said. The new version is available through the Symantec LiveUpdate service. Installing the software will require a system reboot.

Joris Evers writes for CNET News.com