CVE-2012-4696 in H-Designer
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Beijer ADP 6.5.0-180_R1967 and 6.5.1-186_R2942, and H-Designer 6.5.0 B180_R1967, allows local users to gain privileges by inserting a long string into a DLL file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4696 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting Beijer ADP and H-Designer software versions 6.5.0-180_R1967, 6.5.1-186_R2942, and 6.5.0 B180_R1967. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the software's dynamic link library processing functionality, creating a pathway for malicious code execution. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes DLL files containing excessively long strings, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by local attackers. The buffer overflow occurs during the parsing of external DLL components, where the software fails to properly bounds-check string inputs before copying them into fixed-size memory buffers, directly violating fundamental security principles of memory safety.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-established pattern that aligns with CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. Attackers can leverage this flaw by crafting malicious DLL files containing oversized string data that exceeds the allocated buffer space, causing stack corruption and potentially enabling arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges. The local privilege escalation aspect of this vulnerability means that an attacker with basic user access can elevate their privileges to system-level access, bypassing standard security controls. This type of attack vector is particularly dangerous because it does not require network connectivity or external attack surfaces, making it an attractive target for persistent threats and insider attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-4696 extends beyond immediate privilege escalation capabilities to encompass broader system compromise and data integrity risks. Organizations utilizing affected Beijer ADP and H-Designer software versions face potential unauthorized access to critical industrial control systems, especially in environments where these tools are used for designing and deploying automation solutions. The vulnerability's presence in software used for industrial process control creates additional concerns regarding operational technology security and compliance with standards such as NIST SP 800-82 and IEC 62443. Attackers can exploit this weakness to establish persistent backdoors, modify system configurations, or disrupt critical operations, particularly in manufacturing and infrastructure environments where these tools are commonly deployed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4696 should prioritize immediate software updates and patches provided by the vendor, as these releases typically contain fixed memory handling routines and enhanced input validation mechanisms. Organizations should implement strict access controls and privilege separation to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts, following principles outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation category. Additional protective measures include network segmentation to isolate affected systems, regular security assessments of industrial control environments, and implementation of runtime application self-protection mechanisms. Security teams should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor for suspicious DLL loading activities and abnormal memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability scanning and patch management processes must be enhanced to ensure timely remediation of similar vulnerabilities across industrial control system environments, as this type of flaw represents a common attack vector in operational technology security breaches.