CVE-2013-0728 in ERDAS APOLLO ECWP
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in NCSAddOn.dll in the ERDAS APOLLO ECWP plugin before 13.00.0001 for Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long property value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0728 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the NCSAddOn.dll component of ERDAS APOLLO ECWP plugin version 13.00.0000 and earlier. This issue affects multiple web browsers including Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome, creating a widespread attack surface that could be exploited by remote threat actors. The vulnerability specifically manifests when processing property values in the ECWP plugin, where insufficient input validation allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that exceed the allocated stack buffer space. The flaw resides in the plugin's handling of user-supplied data within the context of web browser environments, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through web-based attacks without requiring local system access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic stack-based buffer overflow pattern where a fixed-size buffer on the stack receives more data than it can accommodate, causing adjacent memory locations to be overwritten. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as stack-based buffer overflow, which is a well-documented weakness in software development practices. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates within the browser context, allowing remote exploitation through web pages or malicious content that triggers the vulnerable plugin. When the plugin processes a long property value, the excessive data overflows into adjacent stack memory, potentially corrupting return addresses, function pointers, or other critical execution data that could be manipulated to redirect program execution to attacker-controlled code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it enables attackers to gain unauthorized control over affected systems running vulnerable browsers with the APOLLO plugin installed. This remote code execution capability allows threat actors to perform a wide range of malicious activities including data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, privilege escalation, and deployment of additional malware payloads. The vulnerability affects enterprise environments where ERDAS APOLLO is commonly used for geospatial data processing and visualization, making it particularly attractive to attackers targeting organizations in sectors such as government, defense, and critical infrastructure. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that the vulnerability affects multiple browser platforms, increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation across different user environments. Additionally, the plugin's integration with web browsers means that exploitation can occur through standard web browsing activities, making detection and prevention more challenging for security teams.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected software components, as the vendor has released version 13.00.0001 to address the buffer overflow issue. Organizations should implement browser security policies that disable or restrict the execution of potentially vulnerable plugins, particularly in environments where the affected software is not essential. Network-based defenses such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can be configured to monitor for suspicious property value patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing browser sandboxing and privilege separation techniques to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for remote code execution through browser plugins, and organizations should update their threat models to account for this attack vector. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of the vulnerable plugin across the enterprise environment, ensuring comprehensive protection against this and similar stack-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities.