CVE-2012-5973 in XCOM Data Transport
Summary
by MITRE
CA XCOM Data Transport r11.0 and r11.5 on UNIX and Linux allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5973 affects CA XCOM Data Transport versions 11.0 and 11.5 running on UNIX and Linux operating systems. This represents a critical remote code execution flaw that enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems without authentication. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the application's handling of network requests, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject and execute unauthorized code. The affected product is a data transport solution designed for enterprise environments, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could compromise sensitive data transmission infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic buffer overflow or injection flaw in the request processing logic. When the application receives a specially crafted request, it fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters before processing them. This allows attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through malformed requests that trigger unintended code execution. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-77 and CWE-94, representing command injection and code injection weaknesses respectively. These classifications align with the ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 technique for command and scripting interpreter, indicating that the attack vector leverages legitimate system tools to execute malicious payloads. The flaw exists in the application's protocol handling layer where network communications are processed, making it accessible over the network without requiring local system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted across enterprise environments. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain full system control, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, and disruption of critical data transport operations. Organizations relying on CA XCOM Data Transport for mission-critical data movement face significant risk, as attackers could access sensitive information, modify data in transit, or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects both versions 11.0 and 11.5, indicating it was present across a range of releases, suggesting a fundamental flaw in the application's architecture rather than a temporary coding error. This could result in widespread compromise across organizations using these specific versions, particularly in financial services, healthcare, and government sectors that depend heavily on secure data transport solutions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5973 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with vendor-provided security updates. Organizations must implement network segmentation to limit access to affected systems and monitor network traffic for suspicious requests that match the vulnerability's attack patterns. The principle of least privilege should be enforced, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to the affected applications. Security monitoring solutions should be configured to detect anomalous command execution patterns and unusual network requests. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected software and implement network-based controls such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems to block unauthorized access attempts. The ATT&CK framework's T1190 technique for exploit for client execution emphasizes the need for layered defenses, including endpoint protection and network monitoring to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes should be enhanced to prevent similar issues in future deployments.