CVE-2018-14813 in V-Server
Summary
by MITRE
Fuji Electric V-Server 4.0.3.0 and prior, A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability has been identified, which may allow remote code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2020
The vulnerability identified in Fuji Electric V-Server version 4.0.3.0 and prior represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw that exposes systems to remote code execution risks. This vulnerability resides within the server software's memory management mechanisms, specifically in how it handles incoming data buffers during processing operations. The heap-based nature of the vulnerability indicates that the flaw occurs when the application attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries of heap-allocated structures, potentially leading to memory corruption that adversaries can exploit for malicious purposes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking within the V-Server application's data handling routines. When processing network requests or data inputs, the software fails to properly verify the size of incoming data against allocated buffer space, creating opportunities for attackers to craft specially malformed payloads that exceed buffer limits. This memory corruption can result in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected service account, potentially compromising the entire server environment.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to industrial control systems and manufacturing environments that rely on Fuji Electric V-Server for critical operations. The remote code execution capability means that attackers can potentially gain unauthorized access to industrial processes without physical presence or local network access, making it particularly dangerous for operational technology environments. The vulnerability affects systems where the V-Server software is deployed, which typically includes industrial automation and control systems where availability and integrity of operations are paramount. Organizations using this software in critical infrastructure settings face potential disruption to manufacturing processes, data breaches, and possible safety hazards in industrial environments.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including applying vendor-provided patches and updates to address the heap overflow vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of vulnerable systems to untrusted networks. Monitoring for suspicious network traffic patterns and anomalous behavior in the V-Server processes can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow categories and may map to ATT&CK techniques involving remote code execution and privilege escalation. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected software and ensure proper patch management protocols are in place to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in their industrial control system environments.