CVE-2019-3479 in Arcsight Logger
Summary
by MITRE
Mitigates a potential remote code execution issue in ArcSight Logger versions prior to 6.7.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3479 represents a critical remote code execution flaw affecting ArcSight Logger versions prior to 6.7. This security issue resides within the logging and monitoring platform developed by Micro Focus, which is widely deployed across enterprise environments for security information and event management. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation mechanisms within the application's processing pipeline, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw specifically manifests in the handling of certain data inputs that traverse the system's logging infrastructure, where insufficient sanitization allows crafted payloads to bypass security controls and gain unauthorized system access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic buffer overflow condition within the application's data processing components. When ArcSight Logger receives and processes specific malformed input sequences, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the data before further processing. This validation failure creates an exploitable condition where attackers can inject malicious code that executes within the context of the application's privileged processes. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for networked environments. According to CWE-121, this vulnerability aligns with stack-based buffer overflow conditions that occur when insufficient bounds checking is performed on data inputs. The attack vector leverages the application's legitimate data handling functions, making detection more challenging for security monitoring systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-3479 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it provides attackers with persistent access to enterprise logging infrastructure that typically contains sensitive operational data. Organizations utilizing ArcSight Logger for security event correlation and incident response may find their entire security monitoring ecosystem compromised, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system lateral movement, and complete infrastructure takeover. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the logging platform, which means that successful exploitation could result in complete loss of security monitoring capabilities for affected organizations. Security teams relying on ArcSight Logger for threat detection and forensic analysis would face significant operational challenges, as the compromised system could no longer be trusted to provide accurate security event data. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising confidentiality through data access, integrity through potential data modification, and availability through system compromise.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of Micro Focus security patches released for ArcSight Logger version 6.7 and subsequent releases. The recommended mitigation strategy involves comprehensive system updates and verification of patch installation across all affected instances. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of the affected systems to untrusted networks. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for remote code execution through application layer attacks, and organizations should consider implementing network-based detection rules targeting the specific exploitation patterns. Additionally, regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other enterprise security tools and systems. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for potential exploitation scenarios involving their logging infrastructure, as the compromise of such critical systems can have cascading effects throughout the enterprise security posture.