CVE-2018-25261 in Iperius Backup
Summary
by MITRE • 04/22/2026
Iperius Backup 5.8.1 contains a local buffer overflow vulnerability in the structured exception handling (SEH) mechanism that allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code by supplying a malicious file path. Attackers can create a backup job with a crafted payload in the external file location field that triggers a buffer overflow when the backup job executes, enabling code execution with application privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2026
The vulnerability in Iperius Backup 5.8.1 represents a critical local privilege escalation risk through a buffer overflow in the structured exception handling mechanism. This flaw exists within the application's handling of external file paths during backup job execution, creating a pathway for malicious actors to gain unauthorized code execution privileges. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes a crafted file path in the external file location field of a backup job configuration, where insufficient input validation allows an attacker to overflow a buffer allocated on the stack during exception handling operations. The buffer overflow occurs within the SEH chain manipulation, where the attacker can overwrite exception handler pointers and redirect execution flow to malicious code. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, which is classified as a high-severity issue in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The attack vector requires local system access and involves crafting a malicious backup job configuration that triggers the vulnerable code path during normal application operation. When executed, the buffer overflow allows attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the running Iperius Backup process, typically system-level privileges depending on the user context. The operational impact is significant as it enables attackers to perform unauthorized actions including data exfiltration, system modification, or further privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic SEH overflow pattern where the attacker controls the exception handler address and can redirect program execution to shellcode positioned within the malicious input. This attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The vulnerability exists due to inadequate bounds checking in the file path parsing function and improper exception handling mechanisms that fail to validate input length before copying data into fixed-size buffers. The attack requires minimal privileges to initiate but can result in complete system compromise when successful. Organizations should immediately apply vendor patches or updates to address this vulnerability, as the attack surface is limited to local users with access to the application configuration interface. System administrators should also implement monitoring for unusual backup job configurations and file path manipulations that might indicate exploitation attempts.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow exploits the predictable stack layout and SEH chain structure within the Iperius Backup application. When a backup job is initiated with a maliciously crafted file path, the application's internal parsing routine copies the input data without proper length validation, causing the buffer to overflow and overwrite adjacent memory locations including the SEH frame pointer. The attacker can manipulate this overwritten pointer to point to a location containing their malicious payload, which then executes with the same privileges as the legitimate application process. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the application's legitimate execution context, making it difficult to detect through standard network monitoring tools. The exploitability factor is high due to the predictable nature of stack-based buffer overflows and the fact that the application does not implement modern exploit mitigation techniques such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, or data execution prevention. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in input sanitization practices and highlights the importance of proper memory management in security-critical applications. Security controls should focus on restricting local access to the application and implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized configuration modifications. Regular security assessments should include testing for similar buffer overflow conditions in other file handling routines within the application. The vulnerability also underscores the need for robust input validation and defensive programming practices to prevent similar issues in future software development cycles. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their backup infrastructure and implement proper access controls to limit potential attack vectors. The impact extends beyond immediate code execution to include potential data integrity compromise and system availability issues if attackers leverage this vulnerability for persistent access or lateral movement within the network.