CVE-2005-3061 in Powerarchiver 2006
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in PowerArchiver 8.10 through 9.5 Beta 4 and Beta 5 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long filename in a (1) ACE or (2) ARJ archive.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3061 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw affecting PowerArchiver software versions 8.10 through 9.5 Beta 4 and Beta 5. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the archive handling routines, specifically when processing filenames contained within ACE and ARJ compressed archive formats. The flaw manifests when the software attempts to parse and store excessively long filenames without proper bounds checking, creating exploitable conditions in the program's memory management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the inherent characteristics of stack-based buffer overflows where attacker-controlled data exceeds the allocated buffer space, causing adjacent memory locations to be overwritten. In the context of PowerArchiver, when processing ACE or ARJ archives containing maliciously crafted filenames exceeding predetermined length limits, the application fails to validate the input size before copying it into fixed-size stack buffers. This condition enables attackers to overwrite return addresses and execution pointers, fundamentally compromising the application's control flow and potentially allowing arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a remote exploitation vector that does not require local system access. Attackers can craft malicious ACE or ARJ archives containing oversized filenames and distribute them through various channels including email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing networks. The vulnerability affects the software's archive extraction functionality, making any system running affected PowerArchiver versions susceptible to compromise when processing untrusted archive files. This creates significant risk for organizations relying on these archive tools for file management and distribution.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique involving code injection through buffer overflow vulnerabilities, potentially leading to privilege escalation and persistent access. The exploitability of this flaw is enhanced by the fact that it requires no special privileges to trigger, as the vulnerability exists within the archive processing functionality that typically runs with standard user permissions. Organizations should consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious archive file processing activities and ensure immediate patching of affected systems to prevent exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3061 include immediate deployment of vendor patches or updates to PowerArchiver software, implementing strict file validation policies for archive processing, and deploying network segmentation to limit exposure. Security administrators should also consider disabling automatic archive extraction features where possible and maintaining comprehensive monitoring of archive processing activities. The vulnerability underscores the importance of input validation and proper memory management practices in software development, particularly for applications handling untrusted data from external sources. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected software components and establish robust patch management procedures to address similar memory safety issues in their software inventory.