CVE-2017-8893 in AeroAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
AeroAdmin 4.1 uses a function to copy data between two pointers where the size of the data copied is taken directly from a network packet. This can cause a buffer overflow and denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8893 affects AeroAdmin version 4.1, a remote desktop management tool that enables users to control computers remotely over network connections. This particular flaw resides in how the application processes incoming data from network packets, specifically within its memory management functions. The software employs a data copying mechanism that directly utilizes size parameters obtained from external network sources without proper validation or bounds checking, creating a critical security weakness that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory safety practices within the application's network protocol handling code. When AeroAdmin receives a network packet containing data to be processed, it extracts the data size directly from the packet header and uses this value to determine how much memory to allocate for copying operations. This approach violates fundamental security principles and creates a classic buffer overflow condition where an attacker can manipulate the packet size parameter to exceed the allocated buffer boundaries. The vulnerability manifests as a buffer overflow condition that can result in application crashes, system instability, and ultimately denial of service attacks against the targeted system.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on AeroAdmin for remote system management. The buffer overflow condition can be exploited to cause immediate service disruption through application crashes, forcing administrators to restart services or reboot systems. Beyond simple denial of service, this weakness creates potential entry points for more sophisticated attacks that could leverage the instability to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges within the compromised system. The vulnerability affects the availability and integrity of the remote administration service, potentially disrupting critical business operations that depend on remote access capabilities.
The security implications of CVE-2017-8893 align with CWE-121, which describes the weakness of stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers legitimate credentials for remote access. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of AeroAdmin, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the application, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious packet patterns. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing rate limiting and packet filtering rules to prevent malformed packets from reaching the vulnerable application. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of input validation and proper memory management practices in networked applications, particularly those handling untrusted external data sources.