CVE-2019-13452 in Xymon
Summary
by MITRE
In Xymon through 4.3.28, a buffer overflow vulnerability exists in reportlog.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2020
The buffer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-13452 affects Xymon versions up to 4.3.28 and specifically resides within the reportlog.c component of the software. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that can be exploited to compromise the integrity and availability of systems running affected versions of Xymon. The issue stems from improper input validation and memory management practices within the logging functionality that processes report data. Xymon is a widely used network monitoring and alerting system that collects and analyzes system performance data from various network devices and servers, making it a critical component in enterprise IT infrastructure monitoring environments.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when the reportlog.c module processes incoming data without adequate bounds checking on buffer allocations. This flaw allows an attacker to provide maliciously crafted input that exceeds the allocated buffer size, resulting in memory corruption that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability is classified as a classic buffer overflow according to CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows data to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw typically manifests when the application processes log entries or report data that contains oversized input strings or malformed data structures that are not properly sanitized before being stored in fixed-size buffers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to potentially enable full system compromise. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Xymon service account, which often runs with elevated permissions to access system resources and monitoring data. In enterprise environments where Xymon is deployed as a central monitoring solution, successful exploitation could provide attackers with access to critical network infrastructure data, potentially enabling lateral movement within the network or the ability to manipulate monitoring alerts to hide malicious activities. The vulnerability affects systems that rely on Xymon's reporting capabilities, particularly those that process external data inputs or receive automated reports from network devices, making it a significant concern for organizations with extensive monitoring deployments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-13452 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Xymon installations to version 4.3.29 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow condition. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of Xymon systems to untrusted inputs, particularly in environments where the monitoring system processes external data feeds. Input validation measures should be enhanced to include proper bounds checking and sanitization of all data entering the reportlog.c module, implementing defensive programming practices that align with secure coding guidelines such as those recommended by the CERT Secure Coding Standards. Additionally, monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, including unusual patterns in report processing or memory allocation anomalies that could indicate buffer overflow attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter indicates that exploitation may involve crafting malicious input to trigger the overflow, making input validation and threat detection critical defensive measures.