CVE-2017-9660 in Monitouch V-SFT
Summary
by MITRE
A Heap-Based Buffer Overflow was discovered in Fuji Electric Monitouch V-SFT versions prior to Version 5.4.43.0. A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability has been identified, which may cause a crash or allow remote code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9660 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw in Fuji Electric Monitouch V-SFT software versions prior to 5.4.43.0. This issue resides within the industrial control system software designed for monitoring and managing industrial processes, making it particularly concerning for operational technology environments. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory management practices within the software's handling of user-supplied data, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors to compromise system integrity.
This heap-based buffer overflow occurs when the software fails to properly validate the size of data being processed, allowing an attacker to write beyond the allocated memory boundaries of heap-allocated buffers. The flaw specifically affects the software's ability to handle malformed or oversized input data structures, particularly in communication protocols or data processing functions. When exploited, this vulnerability can lead to arbitrary code execution, system crashes, or complete system compromise, as the attacker can manipulate memory layout to inject and execute malicious code within the target system's context. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, Heap-based Buffer Overflow, which describes buffer overflows occurring in heap memory regions where insufficient bounds checking allows memory corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability, as Monitouch V-SFT systems are typically deployed in critical industrial environments where system reliability and security are paramount. These systems often control manufacturing processes, power generation facilities, and other infrastructure components where unauthorized access or system compromise could result in significant financial losses, safety hazards, or operational disruptions. The remote code execution capability means that attackers could potentially gain persistent access to industrial control systems without physical presence, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for environments with limited network segmentation or security monitoring.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-9660 should prioritize immediate software patching to version 5.4.43.0 or later, which contains the necessary memory validation and bounds checking fixes. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of affected systems to untrusted networks, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify potential attack vectors. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, indicates that defensive measures should include monitoring for anomalous network traffic patterns and implementing application whitelisting policies. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their industrial control system environments to identify other potentially vulnerable software components that may share similar memory management flaws, as this type of vulnerability often indicates broader architectural issues within industrial software platforms.