CVE-2017-20013 in INTEREST Security Scanner
Summary
by MITRE • 03/29/2022
A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in WEKA INTEREST Security Scanner up to 1.8. Affected by this vulnerability is the Stresstest Configuration Handler. A manipulation leads to a local denial of service. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. NOTE: This vulnerability only affects products that are no longer supported by the maintainer
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-20013 represents a significant security flaw within the WEKA INTEREST Security Scanner version 1.8 and earlier. This issue specifically targets the Stresstest Configuration Handler component, which serves as a critical interface for managing stress testing configurations within the security scanning framework. The vulnerability classification as "problematic" indicates a substantial risk to system availability and operational integrity, particularly given that the affected product has reached end-of-life status and no longer receives official security updates or support from the vendor.
The technical flaw manifests through a local denial of service condition that occurs when an attacker manipulates the Stresstest Configuration Handler. This manipulation exploits a weakness in how the system processes configuration parameters, leading to a complete disruption of the stress testing functionality. The vulnerability operates at the local level, meaning that exploitation requires physical access or administrative privileges on the target system, but the impact remains severe as it can render the entire security scanning capability unusable. The underlying mechanism likely involves improper input validation or memory management within the configuration handler, creating a condition where malformed or specially crafted configuration data causes the application to crash or become unresponsive.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it fundamentally compromises the security monitoring capabilities of organizations relying on the WEKA INTEREST Security Scanner. When the Stresstest Configuration Handler fails, administrators lose the ability to perform critical stress testing operations that validate system resilience under load conditions. This creates a dangerous gap in security posture where organizations cannot properly assess their systems' performance under stress, potentially leaving them vulnerable to actual attack scenarios that could overwhelm system resources. The public disclosure of exploitation methods further amplifies the risk, as threat actors can readily implement this vulnerability without requiring advanced technical skills or specialized tools.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of the WEKA INTEREST Security Scanner should immediately implement mitigations focused on system hardening and access controls. Given that the product is no longer supported, the most effective approach involves either migrating to a supported security scanning solution or implementing strict network segmentation to limit local access to the vulnerable system. Security teams should also consider disabling the Stresstest Configuration Handler functionality entirely if it is not mission-critical, while establishing robust monitoring for unusual system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-122, which addresses improper restriction of operations within a limited scope, and represents a clear example of how legacy systems can create persistent security risks that extend far beyond their intended operational lifespan.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current security tooling and the dangers associated with continued use of unsupported software products. The fact that exploitation methods have been publicly disclosed creates an immediate risk for organizations that have not yet migrated from affected versions. Security professionals should treat this as a high-priority remediation item, particularly in environments where security scanning capabilities are essential for maintaining operational integrity and compliance requirements. The vulnerability also serves as a cautionary example of how even seemingly minor components within security infrastructure can create significant operational impacts when they contain exploitable flaws.