CVE-2021-34879 in View
Summary
by MITRE • 01/14/2022
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Bentley View 10.15.0.75. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the parsing of J2K files. The issue results from the lack of validating the existence of an object prior to performing operations on the object. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-14832.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical remote code execution flaw in Bentley View version 10.15.0.75, a widely used desktop application for viewing and editing engineering and construction data. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation during the processing of J2K (JPEG 2000) files, which are commonly used for high-quality image compression in engineering documentation. The flaw exists within the application's file parsing logic where it fails to properly validate object existence before executing operations on those objects, creating a classic null pointer dereference scenario that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a well-documented pattern that aligns with CWE-476, which describes null pointer dereference conditions where a null pointer is used in a context that requires a valid object reference. When a maliciously crafted J2K file is processed by Bentley View, the application attempts to perform operations on an object that was never properly initialized or validated, leading to unpredictable behavior that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploitation of a software vulnerability to gain unauthorized access and execute malicious code within the target system's context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it requires only user interaction through visiting a malicious webpage or opening a malicious file, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently interact with various file types. Attackers can craft specially designed J2K files that trigger the vulnerability when opened by the vulnerable application, potentially allowing them to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user. The exploitability is enhanced by the fact that the vulnerability occurs during normal file processing operations, making it difficult to detect through conventional security monitoring approaches.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the affected Bentley View version to address the underlying validation issue in the J2K file parser. Organizations should implement network-level controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering to prevent access to known malicious domains that might serve exploit payloads. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding untrusted file attachments and websites, particularly those that might contain malicious J2K files. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and object existence checking in software development practices, as outlined in industry standards for secure coding methodologies that emphasize defensive programming techniques to prevent such exploitable conditions.