CVE-2016-10310 in SQL Anywhere
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the MobiLink Synchronization Server component in SAP SQL Anywhere 17 and possibly earlier allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (resource consumption and process crash) by sending a crafted packet several times, aka SAP Security Note 2308778.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10310 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the MobiLink Synchronization Server component of SAP SQL Anywhere version 17 and potentially earlier releases. This flaw resides in the network protocol handling mechanisms that process synchronization requests from mobile devices, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors who can manipulate the system through carefully crafted network packets. The vulnerability specifically affects the server's ability to handle incoming data streams during the synchronization process, where insufficient input validation and memory management practices enable attackers to overflow buffer boundaries and corrupt system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic stack-based buffer overflow scenario where attacker-controlled data exceeds the allocated buffer space within the synchronization server's processing routines. When authenticated users send specially crafted packets multiple times to the affected system, the server's memory management fails to properly validate the size and content of incoming data, leading to memory corruption that ultimately results in process termination and system resource exhaustion. This behavior aligns with CWE-121, which categorizes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a direct threat to system availability and operational continuity. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only authentication privileges, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by insiders or compromised accounts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can be weaponized to create sustained resource exhaustion conditions that degrade system performance or completely disable synchronization services. Network administrators and security professionals must consider the implications for mobile application environments that rely heavily on MobiLink synchronization, as the vulnerability can disrupt business-critical data synchronization processes across enterprise mobile deployments. The process crash behavior creates a cascading effect that can impact multiple concurrent users and applications depending on the synchronization server's role within the overall system architecture. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499 which covers resource exhaustion attacks that can cause system unavailability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-10310 should prioritize immediate patching of affected SAP SQL Anywhere installations through the official SAP security patches referenced in SAP Security Note 2308778. Network segmentation and access control measures can provide additional defense-in-depth layers by limiting unauthorized access to the synchronization server and restricting the ability of attackers to send malicious packets. Implementing network monitoring and anomaly detection systems can help identify unusual packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing rate limiting mechanisms to prevent the repeated packet flooding that enables this vulnerability's exploitation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other SAP components and ensure comprehensive protection against similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities that may exist in the broader SAP ecosystem.