CVE-2017-7910 in Canal Structural Wind Analysis
Summary
by MITRE
A Stack-Based Buffer Overflow issue was discovered in Digital Canal Structural Wind Analysis versions 9.1 and prior. An attacker may be able to run arbitrary code by remotely exploiting an executable to perform a denial-of-service attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7910 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within Digital Canal Structural Wind Analysis software versions 9.1 and earlier. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the application's processing routines, particularly when handling malformed or excessively large data inputs. The buffer overflow occurs in the stack memory allocation where the application fails to properly check the boundaries of data being written to allocated memory regions, creating opportunities for attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the fundamental weakness in memory management practices where the application does not enforce proper bounds checking on user-supplied data. When an attacker crafts malicious input that exceeds the predetermined buffer size, the excess data overflows into adjacent stack memory, potentially corrupting critical program execution elements including return addresses, function pointers, and local variables. This memory corruption can be systematically manipulated to redirect program execution flow, enabling remote code execution capabilities that allow attackers to gain unauthorized control over the affected system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations utilizing structural wind analysis software in critical infrastructure applications. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can potentially compromise systems without physical access or local network presence, making the attack surface particularly dangerous for industrial control systems and engineering environments. The denial-of-service aspect of the vulnerability further compounds the risk as it can be used to disrupt critical analysis operations that may affect building design validation, structural safety assessments, and engineering workflow processes essential for public safety.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in stack memory regions where insufficient bounds checking allows data to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This classification indicates the flaw's direct relationship to improper input handling and memory management practices. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including TA0002 Execution through the use of remote code execution capabilities, and TA0043 Reconnaissance as attackers may need to identify vulnerable systems before exploitation. The attack chain typically involves initial reconnaissance to identify affected systems, crafting malicious payloads that trigger the buffer overflow, and then executing arbitrary code to achieve persistent access or system compromise.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates for Digital Canal Structural Wind Analysis software. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of vulnerable systems to untrusted networks. Input validation measures and application whitelisting can help reduce the attack surface, while continuous monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be deployed to identify potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar memory corruption vulnerabilities in other legacy systems and applications within the organization's infrastructure.