CVE-2019-25547 in NetAware
Summary
by MITRE • 03/21/2026
NetAware 1.20 contains a buffer overflow vulnerability in the User Blocking feature that allows local attackers to crash the application by supplying oversized input. Attackers can paste a malicious buffer of 512 bytes into the 'Add a website or keyword to be filtered' field and trigger a crash when removing the created block.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-25547 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within NetAware version 1.20 that specifically targets the User Blocking functionality. This issue arises from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the application's filtering system, creating a pathway for malicious exploitation that can result in application instability and potential system compromise. The vulnerability exists in the user interface component responsible for processing website and keyword filtering requests, where the software fails to properly sanitize or limit the length of user-provided input before processing it within fixed-size memory buffers.
The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates a classic stack-based buffer overflow condition that occurs when attackers supply malicious input exceeding the allocated buffer space. Specifically, the vulnerability manifests when users paste a 512-byte malicious buffer into the designated 'Add a website or keyword to be filtered' field, which then triggers the overflow condition during subsequent removal operations of the created block. This particular implementation follows the CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow pattern where insufficient bounds checking allows data to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow and leading to arbitrary code execution or application termination.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashing, as it provides local attackers with a method to disrupt the normal operation of the network monitoring and filtering system. When exploited successfully, the buffer overflow can cause the application to terminate unexpectedly, potentially leading to loss of network monitoring capabilities and creating a denial of service condition for network administrators who rely on NetAware for traffic management. The vulnerability's local attack vector means that exploitation requires physical access to the target system or equivalent privileges, but the low complexity of the attack makes it particularly concerning for environments where unauthorized local access might occur.
From a security perspective, this vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, as it can be leveraged to disrupt system services and potentially create conditions for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability's presence in a network monitoring application particularly raises concerns about potential information disclosure or system compromise, as attackers could use the application crash to mask malicious activities or create cover for more serious exploits. Network administrators should be particularly vigilant about this issue given that it affects a security tool designed to protect network traffic, making it a prime target for adversaries seeking to undermine network security measures.
The recommended mitigations for CVE-2019-25547 involve immediate patching of the NetAware application to address the buffer overflow condition through proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring for unusual application crashes or memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Input sanitization measures should be strengthened to ensure all user-provided data is properly validated before processing, particularly for fields that handle website URLs and keyword filtering. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of robust memory management practices in security applications and the critical need for thorough code review processes to identify and remediate buffer overflow conditions before they can be exploited by malicious actors.