CVE-2016-4289 in GMER
Summary
by MITRE
A stack based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the method receiving data from SysTreeView32 control of the GMER 2.1.19357 application. A specially created long path can lead to a buffer overflow on the stack resulting in code execution. An attacker needs to create path longer than 99 characters to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4289 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the GMER 2.1.19357 system monitoring application. This vulnerability specifically targets the SysTreeView32 control component responsible for handling file path data input. The flaw manifests when the application processes file paths that exceed a certain length threshold, creating a condition where memory allocated on the stack becomes overwritten beyond its intended boundaries. The vulnerability operates through a classic buffer overflow mechanism where user-supplied data is copied into a fixed-size buffer without proper bounds checking, leading to potential memory corruption. The precise trigger condition requires the creation of file paths exceeding 99 characters, which demonstrates the application's insufficient validation of input length parameters. This particular vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient boundary checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires minimal user interaction beyond the creation of a specially crafted file path, making it potentially exploitable in automated attack scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution capabilities to encompass complete system compromise potential. When successfully exploited, the buffer overflow can overwrite critical stack memory locations including return addresses, which allows attackers to redirect program execution flow to malicious code locations. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only the creation of a long path string, making it relatively accessible to attackers who may not possess advanced exploitation skills. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers execution through command and scripting interpreters, as the overflow could potentially enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands within the application's context. The memory corruption resulting from the stack overflow can lead to unpredictable program behavior, including application crashes, denial of service conditions, or complete system compromise depending on the specific memory locations overwritten. The vulnerability's presence in a system monitoring tool like GMER is particularly dangerous as it could provide attackers with elevated privileges to bypass security controls, given that such tools typically operate with high system privileges. The specific 99-character threshold suggests that the developers may have implemented some basic length checking but failed to account for the complete memory layout requirements of the stack-based buffer.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4289 should address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities. The most direct solution involves patching the application to implement proper input validation and bounds checking for all data received from the SysTreeView32 control, ensuring that path lengths are strictly enforced and that no buffer overflow conditions can occur. This remediation aligns with CWE best practices for preventing buffer overflows through input sanitization and proper memory management. System administrators should immediately disable or remove vulnerable versions of GMER from production environments until patches are applied, as the vulnerability is exploitable without requiring special privileges or complex attack vectors. Organizations should also implement network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious path creation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of defensive programming practices including stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and compiler-based protections such as stack overflow detection mechanisms. Additionally, regular security assessments of system monitoring tools should be conducted to identify similar input validation flaws that could provide attackers with similar exploitation opportunities, particularly focusing on components that handle user-supplied data in untrusted environments. The remediation process should also include comprehensive code reviews to ensure that all input handling routines implement proper bounds checking and that buffer sizes are appropriately validated against expected input ranges.