CVE-2015-8530 in SPSS Statistics
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the Initialize function in an ActiveX control in IBM SPSS Statistics 19 and 20 before 20.0.0.2-IF0008, 21 before 21.0.0.2-IF0010, 22 before 22.0.0.2-IF0011, 23 before 23.0.0.3-IF0001, and 24 before 24.0.0.0-IF0003 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via a long argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8530 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the ActiveX control component of IBM SPSS Statistics software across multiple versions. This vulnerability exists within the Initialize function of an ActiveX control that is part of the SPSS Statistics suite, specifically affecting versions 19 through 24 before their respective security patches were released. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly bounds-check user-supplied arguments before processing them within the stack memory allocation context.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully crafted long argument that exceeds the allocated stack buffer space, causing a buffer overflow condition. When an authenticated user accesses the vulnerable system and provides a specially constructed argument to the Initialize function, the excessive input overflows into adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting the stack frame and allowing an attacker to overwrite critical program execution data. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue in software development practices. The attack vector requires authentication, meaning that an attacker must first establish valid credentials to the system, though this requirement does not diminish the severity of the potential impact.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution capabilities, as it provides attackers with the ability to gain complete control over the affected system's execution environment. Once successfully exploited, the buffer overflow allows for arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected application, which typically runs with elevated system permissions. This creates a significant risk for organizations that rely on SPSS Statistics for data analysis, as the compromise of a single system could potentially lead to unauthorized data access, system takeover, or further lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects enterprise environments where SPSS Statistics is widely deployed for statistical analysis and research data processing, making it particularly attractive to threat actors targeting research institutions, financial organizations, and government agencies that utilize this software extensively.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8530 should prioritize immediate patch application from IBM, which was released as part of the respective IF0008, IF0010, IF0011, IF0001, and IF0003 updates for the affected versions. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to systems running vulnerable SPSS Statistics versions and consider disabling ActiveX controls in web browsers where possible. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices as outlined in the OWASP Top 10 and MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly in the context of privilege escalation and code execution techniques. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar memory corruption vulnerabilities in other enterprise applications. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted ActiveX controls and maintain up-to-date security baselines that include regular patch management procedures to address similar vulnerabilities in the future.