CVE-2017-15035 in PyroBatchFTP
Summary
by MITRE
EmTec PyroBatchFTP before 3.18 allows remote servers to cause a denial of service (application crash).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15035 affects EmTec PyroBatchFTP versions prior to 3.18, presenting a significant security risk through remote denial of service attacks. This flaw resides in the application's handling of remote server connections, specifically when processing certain data streams or connection parameters that trigger application instability. The vulnerability manifests when remote servers attempt to establish connections or transmit data to the affected FTP client, causing the application to crash and become unavailable to legitimate users. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of resource exhaustion and application stability issues, which can be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt service availability for authorized users. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as it can affect business continuity and operational efficiency for organizations relying on this FTP client for batch processing operations.
Technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted network communications from remote FTP servers that manipulate the client's connection handling routines. The flaw likely involves improper input validation or memory management when processing data received from remote endpoints, potentially leading to buffer overflows, invalid memory access, or unhandled exceptions within the application's processing pipeline. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by establishing connections to the vulnerable PyroBatchFTP client and sending malformed data or triggering specific connection sequences that cause the application to terminate unexpectedly. The vulnerability's nature suggests it operates at the protocol level within the FTP client implementation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered without requiring authentication or privileged access. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities that can cause application crashes.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-15035 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise business operations that depend on automated batch FTP processes. Organizations utilizing PyroBatchFTP for critical data transfers, automated file synchronization, or scheduled batch operations face significant risk of operational downtime when this vulnerability is exploited. The remote nature of the attack means that systems can be compromised from anywhere on the network, making it particularly challenging to defend against. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including network-based scanning, automated exploit tools, or by simply establishing connections to vulnerable systems. This creates a persistent threat landscape where organizations must maintain constant vigilance and patch management processes to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in enterprise environments where FTP clients are used extensively for data integration, backup operations, and automated business processes, potentially causing cascading failures across interconnected systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15035 focus primarily on immediate patch application to upgrade to EmTec PyroBatchFTP version 3.18 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the denial of service vulnerability. Network administrators should implement firewall rules and access controls to restrict unnecessary FTP connections and limit exposure to potential attackers. The implementation of intrusion detection systems can help identify suspicious connection patterns or attempts to exploit this vulnerability by monitoring for unusual FTP traffic or connection behaviors. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other networked applications and systems. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to isolate critical systems from potentially compromised environments, reducing the attack surface for such vulnerabilities. From a defensive perspective, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and robust error handling in network applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network disruption attacks. Additionally, the vulnerability emphasizes the need for proper application stability testing and security code reviews, particularly for applications handling remote network connections and data processing tasks. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing batch processing workflows or integration systems.