CVE-2017-2817 in PowerISO
Summary
by MITRE
A stack buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the ISO parsing functionality of Power Software Ltd PowerISO 6.8. A specially crafted ISO file can cause a vulnerability resulting in potential code execution. An attacker can send a specific ISO file to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2817 represents a critical stack buffer overflow flaw within the ISO parsing component of PowerISO version 6.8 developed by Power Software Ltd. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices when processing specially crafted ISO files, creating a pathway for remote code execution attacks. The flaw specifically manifests in the software's handling of malformed ISO file structures during the parsing phase, where insufficient bounds checking allows attacker-controlled data to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, a well-documented weakness category that occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of a fixed-length stack buffer. In the context of PowerISO, the software's ISO parser fails to properly validate the size and structure of incoming ISO file components, particularly when processing file system metadata and directory entries within the ISO 9660 file system format. The attacker can craft an ISO file containing maliciously constructed directory entries or file headers that exceed the allocated buffer space, causing a stack overwrite that can be exploited to redirect program execution flow.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to end users who may unknowingly open maliciously crafted ISO files through PowerISO's file handling capabilities. The attack vector requires only that a user or automated system opens a specially constructed ISO file, making it particularly dangerous in phishing scenarios or when downloading files from untrusted sources. The potential for remote code execution means that an attacker could gain complete control over the victim's system, enabling them to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected user.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate exploitation, as it demonstrates fundamental security weaknesses in the software's input validation and memory management practices. Organizations relying on PowerISO for ISO file management and virtualization tasks face potential compromise when processing untrusted ISO content, particularly in environments where users may encounter malicious files through email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing platforms. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require elevated privileges beyond those normally available to a user, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where users may inadvertently open malicious files during routine operations. Mitigation strategies should include immediate software updates to versions that address the buffer overflow, implementation of strict file validation policies, and user education regarding the risks of opening untrusted ISO files, while also considering network-level controls to prevent automatic execution of ISO content.