CVE-2012-3794 in Pro-Server EX
Summary
by MITRE
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 (unhandled exception and daemon crash) via a crafted packet with a certain opcode that triggers an invalid attempt to allocate a large amount of memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3794 affects Pro-face WinGP PC Runtime versions 3.1.00 and earlier, as well as ProServr.exe component in Pro-face Pro-Server EX versions 1.30.000 and earlier. This represents a critical denial of service vulnerability that can be exploited remotely by attackers who craft specially formatted network packets. The flaw manifests when the affected software receives a packet containing a specific opcode that triggers an unhandled exception within the application's memory management routines. This particular vulnerability falls under the category of improper error handling and memory allocation issues, which are commonly classified as CWE-400 (Uncontrolled Resource Consumption) and CWE-704 (Incorrect Type Conversion or Cast) within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of network protocol communications between client and server components within the Pro-face industrial automation ecosystem. When the vulnerable software processes a crafted packet with an invalid opcode, it attempts to allocate an excessive amount of memory that exceeds the system's capacity or the application's intended resource limits. This improper memory allocation triggers an unhandled exception that causes the daemon process to crash and terminate unexpectedly. The crash results in a complete denial of service condition for the affected system, rendering it unable to process legitimate requests or maintain operational continuity. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in industrial control systems where continuous operation is critical, as it can lead to production halts and operational disruptions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to industrial environments that rely on Pro-face automation systems for critical infrastructure operations. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this weakness from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or legitimate credentials. The daemon crash creates a cascading effect that can disrupt entire automation processes, potentially leading to safety issues in manufacturing environments where automated systems control hazardous processes. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 (Endpoint Denial of Service) and represents a classic example of how industrial control system software can be targeted through network-based attacks. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially compromise operational technology environments where system availability is paramount.
Organizations utilizing affected Pro-face products should immediately implement mitigations including network segmentation to isolate critical systems from untrusted networks, deployment of network access controls to filter incoming traffic based on protocol specifications, and application-level monitoring to detect anomalous packet patterns. The most effective long-term solution involves updating to patched versions of both WinGP PC Runtime and Pro-Server EX components, as these releases contain proper error handling mechanisms that prevent the invalid memory allocation scenario. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems with signature-based detection for this specific vulnerability pattern can provide early warning capabilities. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in industrial control system environments, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and resource management in embedded industrial software. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing to ensure that updates do not disrupt existing operational procedures within the automation infrastructure.