CVE-2017-20016 in INTEREST Security Scanner
Summary
by MITRE • 03/29/2022
A vulnerability has been found in WEKA INTEREST Security Scanner up to 1.8 and classified as problematic. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the component Portscan. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to denial of service. The attack can be initiated remotely. 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 • 06/05/2024
This vulnerability resides within the WEKA INTEREST Security Scanner version 1.8 and earlier, specifically impacting the Portscan component functionality. The flaw represents a denial of service condition that can be triggered through manipulation of unknown input parameters, making it particularly concerning for security infrastructure systems. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can initiate the attack from external networks without requiring physical access to the target system, significantly expanding the potential attack surface.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under the category of input validation issues that can lead to service disruption. When the Portscan component receives malformed or unexpected input, it fails to properly handle the data, resulting in a complete denial of service condition. This type of vulnerability typically stems from inadequate error handling mechanisms within the application's input processing pipeline, where the system does not adequately validate or sanitize incoming data before processing. The vulnerability's classification as problematic indicates that it has been identified as a significant security weakness that could be exploited to compromise system availability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption, as it can effectively render the security scanner inoperative during critical security assessments. Organizations relying on this tool for network security monitoring and vulnerability assessment would face significant operational challenges when the scanner becomes unavailable due to this denial of service condition. The fact that this vulnerability has been publicly disclosed and is known to be exploitable means that threat actors can readily leverage it against vulnerable systems. This creates a substantial risk for organizations that continue to use unsupported software versions, as they lack the benefit of vendor patches or security updates.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of insufficient input validation leading to availability compromise, which aligns with common weakness enumerations found in CWE databases. The attack vector's remote nature places this vulnerability in the category of network-based exploits that can be executed without requiring user interaction or privileged access. Organizations should consider this vulnerability within the broader context of the ATT&CK framework, particularly in relation to service availability and denial of service tactics. Given that the software is no longer supported by the maintainer, the most effective mitigation strategy involves immediate discontinuation of the vulnerable software and replacement with supported alternatives.
The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date security tools and the risks associated with continuing to use unsupported software. Legacy systems that remain in production without proper security maintenance create significant exposure points for organizations. Organizations should implement comprehensive inventory management to identify all instances of this vulnerable software and ensure complete removal from their security infrastructure. The lack of vendor support means that even if a workaround were possible, it would likely be insufficient to provide adequate protection against evolving threats. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of software lifecycle management and the need for organizations to maintain current security toolsets to prevent exploitation by adversaries.