CVE-2018-25264 in TransMac
Summary
by MITRE • 04/27/2026
TransMac 12.2 contains a buffer overflow vulnerability in the license key input field that allows local attackers to crash the application by submitting an oversized string. Attackers can generate a payload file containing 4000 bytes of data, paste it into the License Key field, and trigger a denial of service condition.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2026
The vulnerability in TransMac 12.2 represents a classic buffer overflow flaw that demonstrates inadequate input validation mechanisms within the software's license key processing functionality. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-121 which specifically addresses buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user-supplied license key data, where the software fails to properly validate or limit the length of input provided by users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application attempts to process license key input without enforcing reasonable size limitations. When an attacker submits a payload containing 4000 bytes of data into the license key field, the software's internal buffer allocation cannot accommodate such an oversized input. This overflow condition causes the application to write beyond its intended memory allocation, resulting in unpredictable behavior including application crashes and system instability. The specific triggering mechanism involves the software's memory management routines failing to perform proper bounds checking before copying user input into fixed-size buffers.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant denial of service condition that can be exploited by local attackers with minimal technical expertise. The attack requires no network connectivity and can be executed simply by pasting the malicious payload into the license key field, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter untrusted software or where privilege escalation is possible. The impact extends beyond simple application instability as buffer overflows can potentially be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks if the application's memory layout allows for arbitrary code execution or information disclosure.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with ATT&CK technique T1203 which involves legitimate programs being used to perform malicious actions by exploiting application vulnerabilities. This particular flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign input fields can become attack vectors when proper input validation is absent. Organizations using TransMac 12.2 should consider immediate mitigation strategies including input length restrictions, application sandboxing, and user access controls to prevent unauthorized individuals from exploiting this condition. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing robust input validation mechanisms as recommended in the OWASP Top Ten security practices and emphasizes the need for regular security assessments of third-party software components.
Mitigation approaches should include immediate patching from the vendor when available, implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted software, and deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious input patterns. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries or address space layout randomization to make exploitation more difficult. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation in preventing buffer overflow conditions and demonstrates why security-conscious development practices must be implemented throughout the software development lifecycle. Organizations should also consider conducting regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar conditions in other applications and systems within their environment.