CVE-2016-8360 in SoftCMS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Moxa SoftCMS versions prior to Version 1.6. A specially crafted URL request sent to the SoftCMS ASP Webserver can cause a double free condition on the server allowing an attacker to modify memory locations and possibly cause a denial of service or the execution of arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/14/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8360 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Moxa SoftCMS versions prior to 1.6, specifically manifesting as a double free condition during HTTP request processing. This issue arises when the ASP Webserver component receives a specially crafted URL request that triggers improper memory management within the application's heap allocation mechanisms. The double free condition occurs when the same memory block is deallocated twice, creating a state where the memory allocator's internal data structures become corrupted and potentially exploitable by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices within the SoftCMS web server component. When processing malformed URL requests, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before passing it through internal parsing functions that manage dynamic memory allocation. This flaw directly maps to CWE-415, which describes improper double-free conditions in memory management, and can be categorized under CWE-122, indicating improper restriction of operations within a memory buffer. The vulnerability exists in the server-side processing logic where memory blocks allocated for request handling are freed without proper reference counting or state tracking mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass potential remote code execution capabilities. An attacker exploiting this double free condition can manipulate the heap memory layout to overwrite critical function pointers or return addresses, effectively allowing arbitrary code execution on the target system with the privileges of the SoftCMS web server process. The memory corruption patterns typical of double free conditions can lead to predictable heap layout modifications, enabling sophisticated exploitation techniques such as heap spraying or return-oriented programming attacks. This vulnerability particularly affects industrial control systems and network infrastructure devices that rely on Moxa SoftCMS for web-based management interfaces, potentially compromising entire network segments if exploited successfully.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-8360 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Moxa SoftCMS installations to version 1.6 or later, which includes proper memory management fixes and input validation improvements. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of vulnerable devices to untrusted networks, while implementing web application firewalls to filter malformed URL requests. The remediation process should also include monitoring for anomalous memory allocation patterns and implementing robust error handling procedures that prevent the exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities. Security teams should consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for known exploitation patterns associated with this vulnerability, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 technique for command and script injection, which may be employed as part of the exploitation chain. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their industrial control systems to identify other potential memory corruption vulnerabilities that may share similar characteristics with this flaw.