CVE-2012-3793 in Pro-Server EX
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in Pro-face WinGP PC Runtime 3.1.00 and earlier, and ProServr.exe in Pro-face Pro-Server EX 1.30.000 and earlier, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) via a crafted packet with a certain opcode that triggers an incorrect memory allocation and a buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-3793 represents a critical integer overflow flaw affecting Pro-face WinGP PC Runtime and ProServr.exe components in Pro-face Pro-Server EX. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the network protocol handling code where specific opcodes trigger erroneous memory allocation calculations. The flaw manifests when remote attackers craft malicious packets containing specially formatted opcodes that cause the application to compute incorrect buffer sizes during memory allocation operations. This fundamental programming error creates a condition where the system attempts to allocate memory blocks that exceed the intended boundaries, leading to unpredictable behavior and system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability operates through a classic integer overflow scenario that falls under CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions. When the vulnerable software processes a crafted packet, the opcode value is used in arithmetic operations that result in integer wraparound, causing the memory allocation function to receive a value that appears valid but actually represents an extremely large or negative number. This malformed allocation request triggers a buffer overflow condition that corrupts adjacent memory regions and ultimately leads to daemon crash and complete service disruption. The vulnerability demonstrates poor adherence to secure coding practices and lacks proper bounds checking mechanisms that should validate all input parameters before processing.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant denial of service threat to industrial control systems and automation environments that rely on Pro-face products. The remote exploitability means that attackers can trigger the service disruption without requiring physical access or local privileges, making it particularly dangerous in operational technology environments where system availability is critical. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as the daemon crash can potentially lead to data loss, system instability, and extended downtime in industrial processes that depend on continuous operation. Organizations using these specific Pro-face components face substantial risk of operational disruption, especially in environments where automated control systems cannot tolerate unexpected service interruptions.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-3793 should prioritize immediate software updates and patches from Pro-face vendors, as this vulnerability represents a known flaw that has been addressed in subsequent releases. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to affected systems, particularly limiting communication to only trusted sources that require legitimate access to the Pro-face services. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems with signature-based detection for known malicious packet patterns can help identify exploitation attempts before they succeed. Organizations should also consider deploying application whitelisting solutions to prevent execution of untrusted code and maintain regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar integer overflow conditions in other industrial control system components. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patched versions in controlled environments before deployment to production systems to ensure that the fix does not introduce regressions or compatibility issues with existing industrial processes.