CVE-2017-2840 in UltraISO
Summary
by MITRE
A buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the ISO parsing functionality of EZB Systems UltraISO 9.6.6.3300. A specially crafted .ISO file can cause a vulnerability resulting in potential code execution. An attacker can provide a specific .ISO file to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2840 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the ISO file parsing mechanism of EZB Systems UltraISO version 9.6.6.3300. This issue resides in the software's handling of ISO disk image files, which are commonly used for storing and distributing operating system installations and other large data sets. The buffer overflow occurs when the application processes malformed ISO files that contain specially crafted data structures designed to exceed the allocated memory buffers. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited through social engineering techniques where an attacker convinces a user to open a malicious ISO file, thereby triggering the exploit without requiring any privileged access or specialized knowledge from the victim.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient memory allocation occurs for data that exceeds the buffer boundaries. When UltraISO processes an ISO file containing oversized data structures, the application fails to properly validate input lengths before copying data into fixed-size buffers, leading to memory corruption that can overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses and function pointers. This memory corruption creates an exploitable condition where an attacker can manipulate the program execution flow to redirect code execution to malicious payloads. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that ISO files are commonly encountered in legitimate software distribution scenarios, making them ideal vectors for attack delivery.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with potential full system compromise capabilities through the exploitation of the buffer overflow. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that UltraISO is widely used for creating and editing ISO files, making it a common tool in both enterprise and personal computing environments. The vulnerability can be triggered through simple file opening operations, requiring no additional user interaction beyond the initial file execution, which significantly lowers the attack threshold. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently handle third-party ISO files or where automated processes might encounter malicious ISO content during system maintenance or software deployment activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2840 should focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by EZB Systems, as the vendor would have developed specific fixes to address the buffer overflow conditions in the ISO parsing code. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies that prevent automatic execution of ISO files from untrusted sources, particularly in enterprise environments where such files might be encountered during software deployment processes. Network-based defenses should include monitoring for suspicious ISO file transfers and implementing sandboxing techniques for ISO file analysis before user access. Additionally, system administrators should consider disabling ISO file mounting capabilities for untrusted users and implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict which applications can process ISO files. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and memory safety practices in file processing applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage that may be leveraged in post-exploitation activities following successful buffer overflow exploitation.