CVE-2020-13656 in Hobbes
Summary
by MITRE
In Morgan Stanley Hobbes through 2020-05-21, the array implementation lacks bounds checking, allowing exploitation of an out-of-bounds (OOB) read/write vulnerability that leads to both local and remote code (via RPC) execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-13656 affects Morgan Stanley Hobbes software version through 2020-05-21, representing a critical security flaw in the array implementation that fundamentally compromises system integrity. This issue stems from the absence of proper bounds checking mechanisms within the software's memory management subsystem, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate array access patterns beyond their intended boundaries. The vulnerability exists in the core data structure handling functionality that processes array operations, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited across multiple attack vectors.
The technical exploitation of this out-of-bounds read/write condition creates a significant threat landscape where adversaries can leverage the flaw to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability specifically enables both local and remote code execution capabilities through remote procedure call mechanisms, allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems and potentially establish persistent footholds within network environments. The lack of bounds checking means that array indices can be manipulated to access memory locations outside the allocated array boundaries, leading to information disclosure, system instability, and complete compromise of affected systems.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represents a severe risk to organizations relying on Morgan Stanley Hobbes for their financial data processing and analysis needs. The remote code execution capability via RPC channels means that attackers can potentially compromise systems from external network locations without requiring physical access or prior authentication. The out-of-bounds read/write conditions can lead to information leakage, system crashes, and the potential for privilege escalation attacks that could result in complete system takeover. Organizations using this software face significant exposure to data breaches, financial loss, and regulatory compliance violations.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array index values, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The flaw creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistence through code execution capabilities, while the RPC-based remote exploitation pathway reflects ATT&CK tactic TA0001 for initial access and TA0002 for execution. Security professionals should consider implementing network segmentation, monitoring for anomalous RPC traffic patterns, and deploying intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. The mitigation strategy should include immediate software patching, implementation of network access controls, and comprehensive security monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts.
Organizations should prioritize the immediate application of vendor patches and updates to address this vulnerability, while also implementing robust access controls and network segmentation to limit potential exploitation impact. The combination of local and remote execution capabilities makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments where network boundaries may be less strictly enforced. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues within the broader software ecosystem, as array bound checking failures often indicate broader architectural weaknesses in memory management implementations.