CVE-2011-4519 in PROMOTIC
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in an ActiveX component in MICROSYS PROMOTIC before 8.1.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted web page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4519 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within an ActiveX component embedded in MICROSYS PROMOTIC software versions prior to 8.1.5. This vulnerability exists within the component's handling of user-supplied input, specifically when processing web content that contains maliciously crafted data. The flaw manifests when the ActiveX control processes unvalidated input from web pages, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the ActiveX control's memory management routines. When a web page containing malicious input is loaded in a browser environment that has the vulnerable PROMOTIC ActiveX component installed, the component fails to validate the size of incoming data before copying it to a fixed-size stack buffer. This classic buffer overflow condition occurs because the component does not implement adequate input validation or size constraints, allowing an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses and control data structures.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations utilizing MICROSYS PROMOTIC software in industrial control systems or web-based interfaces. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can potentially compromise systems without requiring physical access or local network presence. The denial of service impact can disrupt critical industrial processes, while the potential for remote code execution could enable full system compromise. The vulnerability affects environments where the ActiveX component is automatically downloaded and executed by web browsers, particularly in industrial automation scenarios where web interfaces are commonly used for system monitoring and control.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in stack memory regions where insufficient bounds checking allows data to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This classification indicates that the flaw represents a fundamental memory safety issue that can lead to arbitrary code execution through manipulation of the program's execution flow. The attack vector follows ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage vulnerabilities in client applications to execute malicious code remotely.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4519 should prioritize immediate patching of all affected MICROSYS PROMOTIC installations to version 8.1.5 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit exposure of systems running the vulnerable ActiveX component, disable automatic ActiveX execution in web browsers, and conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the vulnerable software. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious content, monitoring for exploitation attempts, and establishing secure coding practices for future development. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and memory safety practices in client-side components, particularly those used in industrial environments where system reliability and security are paramount.