CVE-2019-7361 in Advance Steel
Summary
by MITRE
An attacker may convince a victim to open a malicious action micro (.actm) file that has serialized data, which may trigger a code execution 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-7361 represents a critical code execution flaw affecting multiple Autodesk products within the 2018 release cycle. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of malicious action micro (.actm) files which contain serialized data that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw exists in the way these applications process and interpret serialized data within .actm files, creating a pathway for remote code execution when users open these specially crafted files. The affected software suite includes Autodesk Advance Steel 2018, AutoCAD 2018, AutoCAD Architecture 2018, AutoCAD Electrical 2018, AutoCAD Map 3D 2018, AutoCAD Mechanical 2018, AutoCAD MEP 2018, AutoCAD P&ID 2018, AutoCAD Plant 3D 2018, AutoCAD LT 2018, and Autodesk Civil 3D 2018, indicating a widespread impact across Autodesk's professional design and engineering software portfolio. The vulnerability operates through a deserialization attack vector, where untrusted data is processed without adequate validation, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute with the privileges of the victim user.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-502, which specifically addresses deserialization of untrusted data as a security weakness. This classification indicates that the flaw stems from improper handling of serialized objects, where the application's deserialization mechanism fails to validate or sanitize input data before processing it. Attackers can craft malicious .actm files that contain serialized objects designed to exploit the target application's deserialization routines. When users open these files, the applications attempt to deserialize the malicious data, inadvertently executing the embedded code. The attack requires social engineering to convince victims to open the malicious files, as the exploitation occurs through legitimate application functionality rather than through network-based attacks. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may encounter these files through email attachments, shared documents, or other common attack vectors.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-7361 extends beyond simple code execution, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and persistent access within affected environments. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary commands on the victim's system, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, privilege escalation, or deployment of additional malware. The affected applications are commonly used in professional environments where users have elevated privileges and access to sensitive design data, making the potential impact even more severe. Organizations using these applications face significant risk as the vulnerability can be exploited through simple file opening operations, requiring minimal technical expertise from attackers. The widespread nature of the affected software means that many enterprises could be impacted simultaneously, creating a substantial attack surface for threat actors targeting engineering and design organizations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-7361 should focus on both immediate protective measures and long-term security improvements. Organizations should implement strict file handling policies that prevent users from opening unknown or untrusted .actm files, particularly those received through email or downloaded from untrusted sources. The recommended approach includes disabling automatic execution of serialized data within affected applications and implementing application whitelisting where possible. Autodesk released patches for the affected versions, and organizations should immediately apply these updates to eliminate the vulnerability. Network segmentation and email filtering can provide additional protection layers by preventing malicious files from reaching users in the first place. Security awareness training should emphasize the dangers of opening unexpected files, particularly those with .actm extensions, as the attack relies heavily on social engineering components. Regular security assessments should include verification of patch status and monitoring for any suspicious file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper input validation to prevent similar deserialization issues in future software development cycles.