CVE-2007-3696 in ERwin Data Model Validator
Summary
by MITRE
CA ERwin Data Model Validator (formerly AllFusion Data Model Validator) allows remote attackers to (1) cause a denial of service (application hang) via a malformed .EXP database file and (2) cause a denial of service (aaplication crash) via a crafted .EXP database file, which triggers a NULL dereference.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3696 affects CA ERwin Data Model Validator, a database modeling tool previously known as AllFusion Data Model Validator, which is widely used for enterprise data modeling and database design. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that impacts the application's ability to process specially crafted database files, specifically those with the .EXP extension that are used for data model validation and storage. The vulnerability exists within the file parsing mechanism of the application, where insufficient input validation allows maliciously formatted files to trigger unexpected application behavior.
The technical flaw manifests through two distinct denial of service conditions that stem from improper handling of malformed input files. The first condition causes the application to hang indefinitely when processing a malformed .EXP database file, effectively rendering the application unavailable to legitimate users and disrupting business operations. The second condition is more severe, involving a NULL dereference that occurs when the application encounters a crafted .EXP database file, resulting in an application crash and complete termination of the process. Both conditions exploit weaknesses in the input validation and error handling mechanisms, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the structure and content of .EXP files before processing them. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-476, which covers null pointer dereference issues, both of which are common in software that fails to properly validate input data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can significantly affect enterprise data modeling workflows and database design processes. Organizations relying on ERwin Data Model Validator for critical database design tasks may experience complete operational downtime when attackers exploit this vulnerability through crafted database files. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered remotely, meaning attackers do not require physical access to the system or insider knowledge of the application's internal workings. This makes the vulnerability highly exploitable in enterprise environments where database modeling tools may be exposed to untrusted inputs or where attackers can influence the creation or import of database files. The application crash condition creates a more severe impact compared to the hang condition, as it completely terminates the application process, requiring manual intervention to restore service and potentially resulting in data loss or corruption if the application was in the middle of processing critical modeling tasks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on multiple defensive layers to protect against exploitation. Organizations should immediately apply vendor patches or updates that address the input validation flaws in the application's file parsing routines, which would involve implementing proper bounds checking and null pointer validation before processing .EXP database files. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the application to untrusted inputs, including restricting file upload capabilities and implementing strict file validation processes before allowing .EXP files to be processed. The application should be configured to run with minimal privileges and in restricted environments to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Additionally, monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect unusual file processing patterns or application behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts. From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for persistence through application execution, and T1499, which involves network denial of service attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other enterprise applications that may be susceptible to similar input validation flaws.