CVE-2020-6335 in 3D Visual Enterprise Viewer
Summary
by MITRE
SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Viewer, version - 9, allows a user to open manipulated HPGL file received from untrusted sources which results in crashing of the application and becoming temporarily unavailable until the user restarts the application, this is caused due to Improper Input Validation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2020
SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Viewer version 9 contains a critical vulnerability classified as CVE-2020-6335 that stems from improper input validation mechanisms when processing HPGL (Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language) files. This vulnerability represents a classic example of insufficient data sanitization where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters before processing them, creating an avenue for malicious actors to exploit the system through crafted file manipulation. The flaw exists within the file parsing functionality that handles HPGL format files, which are commonly used for vector graphics and technical drawings in engineering and design applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests when the viewer application receives an HPGL file from an untrusted source and attempts to parse its contents without adequate validation checks. This lack of input validation creates a condition where malformed or specially crafted HPGL data can cause the application to crash or become unresponsive. The vulnerability specifically affects the application's ability to handle corrupted or maliciously constructed HPGL file structures, leading to denial of service conditions that temporarily render the application unusable. The improper input validation vulnerability maps directly to CWE-20, which defines weaknesses in input validation as a fundamental security flaw that can lead to various downstream security issues including buffer overflows, injection attacks, and system instability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations that rely on SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Viewer for their design and visualization workflows. The denial of service condition created by this flaw can disrupt productivity and business operations, particularly in environments where multiple users depend on the application for technical documentation and design review processes. The temporary unavailability of the application until manual user intervention is required creates operational bottlenecks and can potentially impact project timelines. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication or elevated privileges to exploit, making it accessible to any user who can deliver a malicious HPGL file to a target system, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate user access and privilege escalation through application exploitation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including restricting file upload capabilities and implementing strict file validation protocols before processing any HPGL content. The recommended approach involves establishing robust input validation mechanisms that sanitize all incoming HPGL data, implementing file type verification, and deploying network segmentation to limit access to vulnerable systems. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies and regular security updates to address the root cause of the vulnerability. The mitigation strategies should align with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 frameworks, particularly focusing on input validation controls and access restriction measures. Regular security awareness training should also be implemented to educate users about the risks of opening files from untrusted sources and the importance of verifying file integrity before processing.