CVE-2017-3195 in Edge Communication Service
Summary
by MITRE
Commvault Edge Communication Service (cvd) prior to version 11 SP7 or version 11 SP6 with hotfix 590 is prone to a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability that could lead to arbitrary code execution with administrative privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The Commvault Edge Communication Service cvd process represents a critical component within the Commvault data protection ecosystem that handles communication between client systems and the central Commvault server. This service operates with elevated privileges to facilitate seamless data backup and recovery operations across enterprise environments. The vulnerability exists within the service's handling of network communications and data processing functions that manage client requests and responses. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending specially crafted malicious data packets to the cvd service, which then processes these inputs without proper boundary checks, leading to memory corruption.
The technical flaw manifests as a stack-based buffer overflow within the cvd service implementation where input data exceeding the allocated buffer space causes memory overwrite conditions. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking mechanisms within the communication processing routines. When legitimate network requests are received, the service fails to properly validate the length and content of incoming data before copying it into fixed-size buffers on the stack. The specific conditions that trigger this overflow involve malformed data structures or oversized payload elements that bypass normal input sanitization processes. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, which is particularly dangerous due to the predictable memory layout and the ability to control the overwritten stack contents.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching across enterprise security infrastructure. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the highest privilege level granted to the cvd service, typically equivalent to administrative or root-level access. This privilege escalation capability enables attackers to gain complete control over the affected system, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, and lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects organizations using Commvault versions prior to 11 SP7 or 11 SP6 with hotfix 590, creating a substantial attack surface for threat actors targeting enterprise backup and recovery systems. Given that these services often operate continuously and maintain persistent network connections, the window of opportunity for exploitation remains significant throughout the operational lifecycle of affected deployments.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and hotfixes, specifically targeting the 11 SP7 release or 11 SP6 with hotfix 590. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of the cvd service to untrusted networks. Monitoring should focus on unusual network traffic patterns and unexpected service behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically leveraging software vulnerabilities to gain elevated system access. Security teams must also consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms and anomaly detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts before they can succeed. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify the effectiveness of implemented controls and identify additional exposure points within the Commvault infrastructure.