CVE-2019-7358 in Advance Steel
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable heap overflow vulnerability in the DXF-parsing functionality in Autodesk Advance Steel 2018, Autodesk AutoCAD 2018, Autodesk AutoCAD Architecture 2018, Autodesk AutoCAD Electrical 2018, Autodesk AutoCAD Map 3D 2018, Autodesk AutoCAD Mechanical 2018, Autodesk AutoCAD MEP 2018, Autodesk AutoCAD P&ID 2018, Autodesk AutoCAD Plant 3D 2018, Autodesk AutoCAD LT 2018, and Autodesk Civil 3D 2018. A specially crafted DXF file may cause a heap overflow, resulting in code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2019-7358 represents a critical heap overflow flaw in the DXF parsing components of multiple Autodesk products including Advance Steel, AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, and various other AutoCAD-based applications. This vulnerability resides within the handling of Drawing Exchange Format files which are commonly used for exchanging design data between different CAD applications. The flaw manifests when these applications process specially crafted DXF files that contain malformed data structures, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by attackers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the DXF parser module. When parsing DXF files, the application fails to properly bounds-check array accesses and memory allocations, allowing attackers to craft malicious input that exceeds allocated buffer boundaries. This heap overflow condition occurs during the processing of specific DXF entities or groups where the parser assumes certain data lengths or structures that do not match the actual file content. The vulnerability specifically affects versions of Autodesk products from 2018, indicating a widespread issue across the product portfolio that relies on the same parsing infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows for remote code execution when victims open maliciously crafted DXF files. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to full system compromise. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no user interaction beyond opening the file, making it susceptible to phishing campaigns or malicious file sharing through collaborative platforms. The vulnerability affects multiple Autodesk products simultaneously, amplifying its potential impact across various engineering and architectural workflows where DXF files are commonly exchanged.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment from Autodesk, as the company has released security updates addressing this specific heap overflow condition. Organizations should also implement strict file validation policies, particularly for DXF files received from external sources or untrusted parties. Network-level controls such as email filtering and web proxies can help prevent malicious files from reaching end users. Additionally, users should be trained to avoid opening DXF files from unknown sources and to maintain current software versions. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Heap-based Buffer Overflow and follows ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, emphasizing the need for layered defensive measures including application whitelisting, memory protection mechanisms, and regular security assessments of CAD environments.