CVE-2018-25432

Arm · Whois

Arm Whois 3.11 contains a buffer overflow vulnerability that allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code via malicious input files.

Executive summary

A critical buffer overflow vulnerability in Arm Whois 3.11 could allow local attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution by hijacking the structured exception handler.

Vulnerability

This is a buffer overflow vulnerability triggered by a malicious input file. By crafting an input with a 672-byte offset, a local attacker can overwrite the nSEH and SEH pointers to hijack the exception handler and execute arbitrary code.

Business impact

With a CVSS score of 8.4, this vulnerability represents a high risk to organizational security. Successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, allowing an attacker to gain unauthorized control over the host running the software, potentially resulting in data exfiltration or lateral movement within the network.

Remediation

Immediate Action: Review the official Arm vendor advisory for available security updates and apply patches to all affected systems immediately.

Proactive Monitoring: Monitor system logs for unusual application crashes or error reports associated with the Whois service, which may indicate exploitation attempts.

Compensating Controls: Restrict access to the affected binary to authorized users only and implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify anomalous process behavior.

Exploitation status

Public Exploit Available: true

Analyst recommendation

Given the ability for local attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution, this vulnerability poses a significant threat. Administrators should prioritize identifying instances of Arm Whois 3.11 and applying the necessary patches to mitigate the risk of system exploitation.