CVE-2021-33713 in JT Utilities
Summary
by MITRE • 07/13/2021
A vulnerability has been identified in JT Utilities (All versions < V13.0.2.0). When parsing specially crafted JT files, a hash function is called with an incorrect argument leading the application to crash. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to cause a Denial-of-Service condition in the application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2021
The vulnerability CVE-2021-33713 affects JT Utilities software versions prior to V13.0.2.0 and represents a classic buffer overflow condition that manifests as a denial-of-service attack vector. This issue specifically occurs during the parsing of maliciously crafted JT files, which are binary formats commonly used for exchanging 3d product data in engineering and manufacturing environments. The flaw lies in how the application handles hash function calls when processing these files, where an incorrect argument is passed to the hashing algorithm resulting in application instability and subsequent crash. This represents a fundamental software implementation error that violates secure coding practices and can be exploited by adversaries without requiring elevated privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a straightforward yet effective pattern that aligns with attack techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1499 category for network denial of service. When an attacker submits a specially crafted JT file to the vulnerable application, the hash function receives malformed input parameters that cause the program to terminate unexpectedly. The flaw can be classified as a CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow or more specifically a CWE-248 uncaught exception, depending on the exact implementation details of the hash function and memory management within JT Utilities. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad by preventing legitimate users from accessing the application's functionality.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-33713 extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially disrupt critical engineering workflows in manufacturing and product design environments. Organizations using JT Utilities for 3d data exchange may experience significant downtime when attackers exploit this vulnerability through file uploads, email attachments, or web-based file sharing systems. The vulnerability affects systems where JT files are processed automatically, such as in enterprise content management systems or automated design review processes, amplifying the potential for widespread disruption. Security teams must consider this vulnerability when assessing risk in environments where untrusted JT files are processed, as it can be leveraged for persistent denial-of-service attacks that may require system restarts or manual intervention to resolve.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-33713 should prioritize immediate patching of JT Utilities to version 13.0.2.0 or later, which contains the necessary code modifications to properly validate hash function arguments. Organizations should implement file validation procedures that scan incoming JT files for suspicious patterns before processing, utilizing both signature-based and behavior-based detection methods. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the attack surface by restricting which systems can process JT files, while monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect unusual application crash patterns or file processing activities. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and error handling within the application code can prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other hash function implementations, aligning with secure coding guidelines from the OWASP Top Ten and ISO/IEC 27001 security standards.