CVE-2018-8865 in IDS 2102
Summary
by MITRE
In Lantech IDS 2102 2.0 and prior, a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability has been identified which may allow remote code execution. A CVSS v3 base score of 9.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2020
The CVE-2018-8865 vulnerability represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw discovered in Lantech IDS 2102 version 2.0 and earlier implementations. This vulnerability resides within the network intrusion detection system software that monitors and analyzes network traffic for potential security threats. The flaw manifests in the device's handling of malformed input data, specifically within its network protocol processing mechanisms. The vulnerability's severity is underscored by its CVSS v3 base score of 9.8, indicating a high level of risk that encompasses full system compromise capabilities. The CVSS vector string AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H demonstrates that the attack can be executed remotely without authentication requirements, does not require user interaction, and can result in complete system compromise with high impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability aspects.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow occurs when maliciously crafted network packets or protocol data are sent to the vulnerable Lantech IDS device. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking within the software's memory management routines, particularly in how it processes incoming network data streams. When the system attempts to store data beyond the allocated stack buffer space, it overflows into adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical program execution flow. This memory corruption can be leveraged by attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code on the target system, effectively gaining full control over the device's operations. The stack-based nature of the vulnerability means that the overflow directly impacts the program's call stack, making it particularly dangerous as it can disrupt fundamental execution mechanisms and provide attackers with privileged access to system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass complete system compromise and potential network infiltration. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to the IDS device, potentially using it as a foothold for further network penetration activities. The compromised device may then be used to monitor network traffic, manipulate security policies, or serve as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network perimeter. Given that IDS devices are critical security infrastructure components designed to detect and prevent network intrusions, their compromise represents a severe threat to overall network security posture. The vulnerability affects not only the device itself but also the broader security ecosystem that relies on accurate and untampered intrusion detection capabilities. Organizations may experience denial of service conditions, data exfiltration, or complete loss of network security monitoring capabilities, as the compromised device could either fail to detect attacks or actively participate in malicious activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-8865 should prioritize immediate software updates and patches from Lantech, as the vendor would have likely released a firmware update addressing the buffer overflow vulnerability. Network administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable devices to untrusted networks, while also monitoring for suspicious network activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of network access control lists and firewall rules can help reduce attack surface by restricting unnecessary network access to the affected devices. Additionally, organizations should consider deploying intrusion detection systems specifically designed to detect exploitation attempts of known buffer overflow vulnerabilities, as well as maintaining comprehensive network monitoring to identify anomalous behavior patterns. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow classification and represents a technique commonly mapped to ATT&CK tactics including privilege escalation and defense evasion, making it particularly concerning for enterprise security operations that rely on maintaining the integrity of their security infrastructure components.