CVE-2018-25295 in ObserverIP Scan Tool
Summary
by MITRE • 04/27/2026
ObserverIP Scan Tool 1.4.0.1 contains a denial of service vulnerability that allows local attackers to crash the application by submitting an excessively long string in the IP input field. Attackers can paste a 2000-byte buffer of repeated characters into the IP field and trigger a search operation to cause an application crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/18/2026
The ObserverIP Scan Tool version 1.4.0.1 presents a critical denial of service vulnerability that stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within its network scanning functionality. This vulnerability specifically targets the IP input field processing logic, where the application fails to properly handle excessively long string inputs. The flaw manifests when a local attacker submits a 2000-byte buffer consisting of repeated characters into the IP field, which then triggers a search operation that results in application instability and subsequent crash. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow conditions, where the application's memory management fails to account for input size limitations during string processing operations. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires minimal privileges and can be executed locally, making it accessible to users with basic system access rights.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits fundamental memory management weaknesses in the application's input handling routines. When the malformed 2000-byte string is processed through the search functionality, the application's internal buffer allocation mechanisms become overwhelmed, leading to memory corruption and subsequent application termination. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks, where adversaries leverage application-level vulnerabilities to disrupt service availability. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple application crashes as it can potentially be leveraged to exhaust system resources or cause cascading failures in network monitoring operations that depend on this tool. The specific buffer size of 2000 bytes suggests that the application's internal string processing functions lack proper bounds checking mechanisms, which is a common pattern in legacy applications that were not designed with robust input validation in mind.
From an operational perspective, this denial of service vulnerability poses significant risks to network security operations that rely on ObserverIP Scan Tool for monitoring and scanning activities. The local privilege requirement reduces the attack surface compared to remote exploits, but it still represents a substantial risk in environments where attackers may have access to user accounts with basic system privileges. Network administrators and security teams utilizing this tool in production environments face the potential for service disruption during critical monitoring periods, which could mask actual security threats or prevent timely detection of network anomalies. The vulnerability's exploitation method is particularly concerning as it does not require sophisticated techniques or specialized tools, making it accessible to a broad range of threat actors. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader security posture assessment, particularly in environments where network scanning tools are integral to incident response and vulnerability assessment workflows.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and bounds checking mechanisms within the application's core processing functions. The most effective immediate solution involves patching or upgrading to a newer version of the ObserverIP Scan Tool that addresses the buffer overflow conditions in the IP field handling. System administrators should also implement input length restrictions and sanitization routines that prevent excessively long strings from being processed through the application's search functionality. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for unusual application behavior patterns and implementing automated alerting for service disruptions that could indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider network segmentation and access control measures to limit local user privileges where possible, reducing the attack surface for this particular vulnerability. The implementation of proper error handling and graceful degradation mechanisms within the application would also help prevent complete service termination when malformed inputs are encountered, aligning with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.