CVE-2013-0593 in SPSS SamplePower
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the olch2x32 ActiveX control in IBM SPSS SamplePower 3.0 before 3.0-IM-S3SAMPC-WIN32-FP001 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0593 resides within the olch2x32 ActiveX control component of IBM SPSS SamplePower 3.0 software, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote code execution attacks. This particular ActiveX control is designed to facilitate statistical power analysis and sample size calculations within the SPSS environment, but its implementation contains dangerous programming practices that expose systems to exploitation. The vulnerability falls under the category of unspecified attack vectors, indicating that the precise technical mechanism enabling remote code execution has not been fully disclosed in the initial CVE description, though such ambiguity typically suggests a severe underlying flaw in input validation or memory management.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common ActiveX control security issues that have been extensively documented in cybersecurity literature and categorized under CWE-119, which deals with weaknesses in memory management, and CWE-74, addressing injection flaws. These classifications indicate that the olch2x32 control likely suffers from buffer overflow conditions or improper input sanitization that allows attackers to manipulate the control's behavior through maliciously crafted parameters. The ActiveX architecture itself presents inherent risks due to its design for Windows environments where controls can execute with elevated privileges, making any vulnerability in such components particularly dangerous for enterprise security. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means attackers can trigger the malicious code execution without requiring physical access to the target system, significantly expanding the potential attack surface.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to organizations utilizing IBM SPSS SamplePower 3.0, particularly those in research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, or academic environments where statistical analysis software is commonly deployed. The impact extends beyond simple data compromise to include complete system takeover, as attackers can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable application. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers Exploit Public-Facing Application, and T1059, covering Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can leverage the compromised system to execute additional malicious payloads or establish persistence. Organizations may experience significant disruption to their analytical workflows, potential data breaches, and possible lateral movement within their networks as attackers exploit this vulnerability to gain deeper access to their infrastructure.
The recommended mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate patching of the IBM SPSS SamplePower 3.0 software to version 3.0-IM-S3SAMPC-WIN32-FP001 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. System administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit exposure of systems running vulnerable ActiveX controls, disable ActiveX controls in web browsers where possible, and conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected systems. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of untrusted ActiveX controls and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to monitor for related exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper software lifecycle management and regular security updates, as it represents a classic example of how outdated third-party components can create significant security risks in enterprise environments. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for potential exploitation of similar ActiveX-based vulnerabilities that may exist in their broader software ecosystem.