CVE-2017-6035 in LEVI Studio HMI Editor
Summary
by MITRE
A Stack-Based Buffer Overflow issue was discovered in Wecon Technologies LEVI Studio HMI Editor before 1.8.1. This vulnerability causes a buffer overflow, which could result in denial of service when a malicious project file is run on the system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6035 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the Wecon Technologies LEVI Studio HMI Editor software. This issue affects versions prior to 1.8.1 and stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the application's handling of project files. The vulnerability manifests when the software processes maliciously crafted project files, leading to unauthorized memory access patterns that compromise system stability and integrity. Such buffer overflow conditions occur when the application writes more data to a fixed-length memory buffer than it can accommodate, causing adjacent memory locations to be overwritten and potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system crashes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the fundamental flaw in memory management practices within the HMI editor's parsing routines. When a specially crafted project file is loaded, the software fails to properly validate the size and content of data structures, allowing attackers to overflow the designated stack buffer. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking permits memory corruption. The operational impact extends beyond simple denial of service, as the overflow can potentially be leveraged to execute malicious code within the context of the running application, presenting a significant risk to industrial control systems and human machine interfaces that rely on this software for operation.
The security implications of CVE-2017-6035 are particularly concerning within industrial environments where HMI editors serve as critical components of operational technology infrastructure. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability to disrupt production processes, cause system downtime, or gain unauthorized access to control systems through the compromised HMI editor. The vulnerability aligns with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1203 category, which covers "Exploitation for Client Execution" and represents a direct pathway for adversaries to establish persistent access through software exploitation. Organizations utilizing Wecon LEVI Studio HMI Editor must consider the broader implications of this vulnerability within their industrial control system security postures, as the attack surface extends to operational technology environments where traditional cybersecurity controls may be insufficient. The recommended remediation involves immediate upgrading to version 1.8.1 or later, which includes proper input validation and memory boundary checking mechanisms that prevent the buffer overflow condition from occurring. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls around systems running this software can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to mitigate potential exploitation attempts.