CVE-2011-2386 in Site Survey
Summary
by MITRE
VisiWaveReport.exe in AZO Technologies, Inc. VisiWave Site Survey before 2.1.9 allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a (1) vws and (2) vwr file with an invalid Type property, which triggers an untrusted pointer dereference.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2386 affects VisiWaveReport.exe component within AZO Technologies Inc.'s VisiWave Site Survey software prior to version 2.1.9. This represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems through carefully crafted malicious files. The vulnerability specifically manifests when processing vws and vwr file formats, which are commonly used for wireless site survey data and reporting within the telecommunications and networking industry.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from an untrusted pointer dereference condition that occurs when the VisiWaveReport.exe application processes malformed vws and vwr files containing invalid Type properties. This flaw falls under the CWE-476 category of Null Pointer Dereference, where the application fails to properly validate input data before attempting to access memory locations. The vulnerability is classified as user-assisted remote execution because attackers must convince a user to open the maliciously crafted files, but once opened, the application's failure to validate the Type property leads to memory corruption and potential code execution. The untrusted pointer dereference occurs during the file parsing process where the application attempts to access memory addresses without proper validation of the Type property values.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations utilizing VisiWave Site Survey software, particularly those in the telecommunications and networking sectors where wireless site surveys are conducted. Attackers could potentially compromise systems by delivering malicious vws or vwr files through various attack vectors including email attachments, compromised websites, or social engineering campaigns. The successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected user. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where multiple users might interact with wireless survey data files, creating multiple potential attack surfaces. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw means that attackers do not require local system access to exploit the vulnerability, making it especially dangerous for networked environments.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to VisiWave Site Survey version 2.1.9 or later, which contains patches addressing this vulnerability. System administrators should implement strict file validation procedures and consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted files. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious file transfers involving vws and vwr extensions, particularly those originating from untrusted sources. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments of their wireless survey tools and ensure that all software components are kept up to date with the latest security patches. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution tactic, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. Organizations should also consider implementing email filtering solutions and user education programs to reduce the risk of successful exploitation through social engineering attacks that rely on user interaction with malicious files.