CVE-2017-12784 in CC File Transfer
Summary
by MITRE
In Youngzsoft CCFile (aka CC File Transfer) 3.6, by sending a crafted HTTP request, it is possible for a malicious user to remotely crash the affected software. No authentication is required. An example payload is a malformed request header with many '|' characters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12784 affects Youngzsoft CCFile version 3.6, a file transfer application that operates over HTTP protocols. This weakness represents a classic buffer overflow condition that occurs when the software fails to properly validate incoming HTTP request headers. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes malformed request data containing excessive pipe characters '|', which causes the software to crash during request handling. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation as defined by CWE-20, where the application does not adequately sanitize user-supplied data before processing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the application's insufficient bounds checking during HTTP header parsing operations. When a malicious actor crafts a request containing an excessive number of pipe characters in the header fields, the CCFile application's internal buffer management fails to handle this malformed input gracefully. The software attempts to process these malformed headers without proper boundary enforcement, leading to a memory corruption condition that ultimately results in application termination. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks, specifically targeting application availability through malformed request exploitation. The vulnerability's remote nature and lack of authentication requirements make it particularly dangerous as any attacker can exploit it without prior access credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors. While the immediate effect is a denial of service condition that crashes the file transfer service, this weakness could serve as a stepping stone for attackers to establish further footholds within network environments. The application crash effectively prevents legitimate users from accessing file transfer services, creating operational downtime that can impact business continuity. Organizations relying on CCFile for file sharing operations may experience service interruptions that affect productivity and collaborative workflows. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution risk through denial of service demonstrates how seemingly minor input validation flaws can create significant operational security concerns. Security teams must consider this vulnerability in their threat modeling exercises as it represents an easy method for attackers to disrupt critical file transfer infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-12784 should focus on immediate patching of the affected software version, as Youngzsoft has likely released updates addressing this specific buffer overflow condition. Network administrators should implement rate limiting and request filtering mechanisms at perimeter defenses to detect and block malformed HTTP requests containing excessive pipe characters. Additionally, deploying intrusion detection systems with signature-based detection for known malicious payload patterns can help identify exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's characteristics align with CWE-122 which addresses buffer overflow conditions, emphasizing the need for proper memory management practices in application development. Organizations should also consider implementing application firewalls or web application firewalls that can filter out malformed HTTP requests before they reach the vulnerable application. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should include validation of input handling mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the file transfer infrastructure.