CVE-2017-5240 in AppSpider Pro
Summary
by MITRE
Editions of Rapid7 AppSpider Pro prior to version 6.14.060 contain a heap-based buffer overflow in the FLAnalyzer.exe component. A malicious or malformed Flash source file can cause a denial of service condition when parsed by this component, causing the application to crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5240 affects Rapid7 AppSpider Pro versions prior to 6.14.060 and specifically targets the FLAnalyzer.exe component responsible for parsing Flash content. This heap-based buffer overflow represents a critical security flaw that can be exploited through malicious or malformed Flash source files, potentially leading to system instability and service disruption. The vulnerability resides within the application's handling of Flash content parsing operations, where insufficient input validation allows attackers to craft specially crafted Flash files that trigger memory corruption during processing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the FLAnalyzer.exe module when processing Flash source files. When the component encounters malformed Flash content, it fails to properly validate the size of incoming data buffers before copying or processing the content, resulting in a heap-based buffer overflow condition. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, which is classified as a memory safety error that can lead to arbitrary code execution or denial of service conditions. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices that are commonly exploited in application security attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions as it creates potential for more severe security consequences within the AppSpider Pro environment. When exploited, the buffer overflow causes the FLAnalyzer.exe component to crash, effectively terminating the application's ability to process Flash content and potentially disrupting automated security scanning operations. This disruption can significantly impact security testing workflows where Flash content analysis is critical for identifying vulnerabilities in web applications. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, "Exploitation for Client Execution," as it represents a method for executing malicious code through application parsing vulnerabilities.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of AppSpider Pro face substantial risk from this vulnerability, particularly in environments where automated security scanning is critical for maintaining application security posture. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely through malicious Flash content delivered via web applications or embedded within other attack vectors. Security teams should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of the vendor-provided patch for version 6.14.060 or higher, which addresses the buffer overflow condition through proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and content filtering measures can provide additional defense-in-depth protections against exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability.