CVE-2017-11497 in ACC
Summary
by MITRE
Stack buffer overflow in hasplms in Gemalto ACC (Admin Control Center), all versions ranging from HASP SRM 2.10 to Sentinel LDK 7.50, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via language packs containing filenames longer than 1024 characters.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11497 represents a critical stack buffer overflow flaw within the hasplms component of Gemalto ACC (Admin Control Center) software. This vulnerability affects a broad range of versions including HASP SRM 2.10 through Sentinel LDK 7.50, making it particularly concerning due to its widespread impact across multiple software iterations. The flaw manifests specifically when processing language packs that contain filenames exceeding 1024 characters, creating a condition where attacker-controlled input can overwrite adjacent stack memory locations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the hasplms module, which fails to properly constrain the length of filename strings during processing of language pack files. When a language pack with an excessively long filename is loaded, the software attempts to store this data on the stack without sufficient bounds checking, resulting in a classic buffer overflow condition. This overflow allows malicious actors to overwrite return addresses, function pointers, and other critical stack variables that govern program execution flow.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant remote code execution risk that can be exploited without authentication requirements. Attackers can craft malicious language pack files containing filenames exceeding the 1024-character threshold to trigger the buffer overflow, potentially gaining complete control over affected systems. The remote exploitation capability means that adversaries can target systems from outside the network perimeter, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations that maintain exposed administrative interfaces or systems that process external language pack submissions.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can be leveraged to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, and potentially compromise entire network infrastructures. Organizations utilizing Gemalto ACC software across their enterprise environments face substantial risk if they have not applied the necessary security patches, as the vulnerability affects core administrative functions that are often critical to system operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, a well-documented weakness category that represents one of the most common and dangerous classes of software vulnerabilities in security literature.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate application of vendor patches released by Gemalto to address the buffer overflow condition in hasplms component. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to ACC administrative interfaces, deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious language pack file uploads, and conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all systems running affected software versions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1078 Valid Accounts, as successful exploitation would likely involve command execution and privilege escalation techniques that adversaries typically employ to maintain persistent access to compromised systems.
Additional defensive measures should include implementing strict file validation policies for language pack submissions, monitoring system logs for unusual filename patterns, and establishing automated scanning procedures to detect potentially malicious language pack files. System administrators should also consider disabling unnecessary language pack processing capabilities when not required for operational functions, reducing the attack surface available to potential exploiters. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in security-critical software components, particularly those handling external data inputs from untrusted sources.