CVE-2016-20038 in yTree
Summary
by MITRE • 03/28/2026
yTree 1.94-1.1 contains a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability that allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code by supplying an excessively long argument to the application. Attackers can craft a malicious command-line argument containing shellcode and a return address to overwrite the stack and execute code in the application context.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-20038 affects yTree version 1.94-1.1, a file management utility that processes command-line arguments. This represents a critical security flaw that arises from inadequate input validation within the application's argument parsing mechanism. The flaw manifests as a stack-based buffer overflow condition that occurs when the application receives command-line arguments exceeding its predetermined buffer size limits. Such vulnerabilities typically stem from programming practices that fail to properly bounds-check user-supplied input before processing it within fixed-size memory buffers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting a malicious command-line argument that exceeds the allocated stack buffer space. When yTree processes this oversized argument, the excess data overflows into adjacent memory locations, potentially overwriting critical stack metadata including return addresses and function pointers. Attackers can strategically place shellcode within their malicious input and manipulate the overwritten return address to redirect program execution flow toward their payload. This technique leverages the classic stack-based buffer overflow exploitation method where the attacker controls both the execution context and the code that will be executed within the application's process space.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems running affected versions of yTree, particularly in environments where users might interact with the application or where it could be invoked through automated processes. The local privilege escalation aspect means that an attacker with access to the system can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the yTree process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires minimal user interaction beyond providing a specially crafted command-line argument, making it relatively easy to exploit in targeted attacks. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation techniques.
Effective mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-20038 require immediate patching of the affected yTree versions to address the underlying buffer overflow condition. System administrators should implement input validation measures that enforce strict bounds checking on command-line arguments and consider implementing address space layout randomization to make exploitation more difficult. Additionally, deploying application whitelisting solutions can prevent execution of untrusted command-line arguments, while regular security audits of command-line parsing functions can help identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of defensive programming practices and proper memory management in preventing exploitation of buffer overflow conditions that could lead to arbitrary code execution within legitimate application contexts.