CVE-2018-7507 in WPLSoft
Summary
by MITRE
WPLSoft in Delta Electronics versions 2.45.0 and prior utilizes a fixed length heap buffer where a value larger than the buffer can be read from a file into the buffer, causing the buffer to be overwritten, which may allow remote code execution or cause the application to crash.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7507 resides within WPLSoft software developed by Delta Electronics, affecting versions 2.45.0 and earlier. This issue represents a classic buffer overflow condition that occurs when the application processes data from external sources without proper bounds checking. The flaw manifests in a heap-based buffer overflow scenario where a fixed-length buffer is allocated but receives data that exceeds its capacity, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the file processing routines of WPLSoft. When the application reads data from files into a predetermined heap buffer, it fails to verify that the incoming data size does not exceed the allocated buffer boundaries. This allows an attacker to craft malicious input files that deliberately exceed the buffer capacity, causing adjacent memory locations to be overwritten with attacker-controlled data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the heap level, making exploitation more complex but potentially more reliable than stack-based buffer overflows.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability to encompass potential remote code execution capabilities. An attacker who can influence the file input to WPLSoft could execute arbitrary code on the target system with the privileges of the running application. This represents a critical security risk for industrial control systems and automation environments where Delta Electronics products are commonly deployed. The vulnerability can also cause application crashes and denial of service conditions, disrupting operational continuity in environments where system reliability is paramount.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The attack surface is particularly concerning in industrial environments where these devices may be exposed to untrusted network traffic or file inputs from external sources. Organizations using Delta Electronics WPLSoft software should prioritize immediate remediation through official patches provided by the vendor, while implementing network segmentation to limit potential attack vectors and monitoring for suspicious file processing activities.