CVE-2018-10655 in Plug
Summary
by MITRE
DLPnpAuditor.exe in DeviceLock Plug and Play Auditor (freeware) 5.72 has a Unicode Buffer Overflow (SEH).
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10655 affects DLPnpAuditor.exe, a component of DeviceLock Plug and Play Auditor version 5.72, which is a freeware utility designed to monitor and control plug and play devices on Windows systems. This tool operates at a low system level to track device connections and disconnections, making it a critical component for enterprise device management and security policies. The vulnerability manifests as a Unicode buffer overflow within the SEH (Structured Exception Handling) mechanism, representing a significant security weakness that could be exploited by malicious actors to compromise system integrity.
The technical flaw occurs when the DLPnpAuditor.exe process handles Unicode input data through the SEH exception handling framework. When processing specially crafted Unicode strings, the application fails to properly validate input length before copying data into fixed-size buffers, leading to buffer overrun conditions. This specific implementation flaw allows attackers to overwrite exception handling data structures in memory, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the running process. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within a system-level monitoring utility that typically runs with elevated privileges, providing attackers with potential access to sensitive system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it represents a critical weakness in endpoint security monitoring tools. Attackers exploiting this buffer overflow could gain unauthorized access to systems that rely on DeviceLock for device control, potentially leading to data exfiltration, persistence mechanisms, or lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability affects the broader security ecosystem by undermining the integrity of device management processes that organizations depend on for maintaining secure computing environments. Given that this is a freeware tool with widespread deployment in enterprise settings, the potential attack surface is extensive and could impact numerous organizations that have not yet patched this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-10655 should prioritize immediate patching of DeviceLock Plug and Play Auditor to version 5.73 or later, which addresses the Unicode buffer overflow issue through proper input validation and buffer management. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect unusual device connection patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should consider disabling or restricting execution of DLPnpAuditor.exe in environments where it is not strictly required, particularly in high-security zones. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes the classic buffer overflow condition, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation could enable attackers to execute malicious code through the compromised monitoring process. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting controls and regular security assessments of third-party tools can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future, reinforcing defensive measures against persistent threats targeting system-level utilities.