CVE-2012-10057 in ispVM System
Summary
by MITRE • 08/14/2025
Lattice Semiconductor ispVM System v18.0.2 contains a buffer overflow vulnerability in its handling of .xcf project files. When parsing the version attribute of the ispXCF XML tag, the application fails to properly validate input length, allowing a specially crafted file to overwrite memory on the stack. This can result in arbitrary code execution under the context of the user who opens the file. The vulnerability is triggered locally by opening a malicious .xcf file and does not require elevated privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-10057 resides within Lattice Semiconductor's ispVM System version 18.0.2, specifically targeting the application's handling of .xcf project files through improper input validation mechanisms. This buffer overflow flaw manifests during the parsing of the version attribute within the ispXCF XML tag structure, where the software fails to enforce adequate bounds checking on user-supplied data. The flaw represents a classic stack-based buffer overflow condition that occurs when the application attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries designated for the version string parsing operation. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which directly violates secure coding practices for memory management and input validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, as it creates a pathway for arbitrary code execution within the security context of the user who opens the malicious file. This local privilege escalation scenario does not require administrative privileges, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may inadvertently open crafted project files. Attackers can exploit this weakness by creating specially formatted .xcf files that contain oversized version attributes, causing the application to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations with malicious payload data. The execution context remains tied to the user's privileges, but the potential for system compromise increases significantly when considering that users may open project files from untrusted sources during development workflows.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code through the vulnerable application. The attack surface is primarily local and user-initiated, which means that the vulnerability could be exploited through social engineering tactics such as phishing campaigns or compromised development environments. The exploitation requires minimal prerequisites beyond the ability to create or distribute malicious .xcf files, making it accessible to threat actors with basic technical capabilities. Organizations using Lattice ispVM System should consider the broader implications for their development and deployment workflows, particularly in environments where multiple developers may share project files or where automated build processes might inadvertently process untrusted project data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-10057 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected software version to address the root cause of the buffer overflow vulnerability. Users should implement strict file validation procedures and avoid opening project files from untrusted sources, particularly in collaborative development environments where file sharing is common. Network segmentation and application whitelisting policies can further reduce the attack surface by limiting the execution of vulnerable applications to trusted environments. Regular security assessments of development tools and automated vulnerability scanning of project files can help identify potentially malicious inputs before they can be processed by the vulnerable application. Additionally, implementing memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date development tools and implementing comprehensive security practices throughout the software development lifecycle to prevent similar issues from arising in future versions.