CVE-2017-16728 in WebAccess
Summary
by MITRE
An Untrusted Pointer Dereference issue was discovered in Advantech WebAccess versions prior to 8.3. There are multiple vulnerabilities that may allow an attacker to cause the program to use an invalid memory address, resulting in a program crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-16728 represents a critical untrusted pointer dereference flaw within Advantech WebAccess software versions prior to 8.3. This issue falls under the broader category of memory safety vulnerabilities and specifically aligns with CWE-476 which defines null pointer dereference conditions. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and pointer management within the software's memory handling mechanisms, creating opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate program execution flow through crafted inputs that trigger invalid memory access patterns.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests when the WebAccess application processes untrusted data without proper validation of pointer values before dereferencing them. This flaw allows attackers to construct specific inputs that cause the application to attempt accessing memory addresses that are either invalid, unmapped, or unauthorized. The root cause lies in the application's failure to implement proper bounds checking and pointer validation routines, which are fundamental security measures required in robust software development practices. When the program attempts to dereference these untrusted pointers, it results in segmentation faults or access violations that ultimately lead to program termination or crash scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors. While the immediate effect is program crash and denial of service, the underlying memory corruption vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges or execute arbitrary code on affected systems. This vulnerability particularly affects industrial control systems and SCADA environments where Advantech WebAccess is commonly deployed, making it a significant concern for operational technology infrastructure. The crash conditions can be leveraged in distributed denial of service attacks against critical infrastructure components, while the memory corruption aspects may provide pathways for privilege escalation attacks targeting the underlying operating system.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability effectively. The primary recommendation involves immediate deployment of the vendor-provided patches and updates for Advantech WebAccess to version 8.3 or later, which contain the necessary fixes for pointer validation and memory handling routines. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of affected systems to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect anomalous behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies and regular security assessments of industrial control systems will help maintain defense in depth. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and following established frameworks such as the OWASP Secure Coding Practices and NIST SP 800-160 guidelines for developing robust software applications in industrial environments. Organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify patterns associated with memory corruption attacks and ensure proper incident response procedures are in place to address potential exploitation attempts.