CVE-2021-46153 in Simcenter Femap
Summary
by MITRE • 02/09/2022
A vulnerability has been identified in Simcenter Femap V2020.2 (All versions), Simcenter Femap V2021.1 (All versions). Affected application contains a memory corruption vulnerability while parsing NEU files. This could allow an attacker to execute code in the context of the current process. (ZDI-CAN-14645, ZDI-CAN-15305, ZDI-CAN-15589, ZDI-CAN-15599)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2022
This vulnerability exists in Siemens Simcenter Femap versions 2020.2 and 2021.1 where improper handling of NEU files leads to memory corruption during parsing operations. The flaw represents a critical security weakness that can be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution within the application's security context. The vulnerability was identified through collaborative efforts between Siemens and Zero Day Initiative researchers who assigned multiple CAN numbers to track different aspects of this memory corruption issue. The affected NEU file format processing routine fails to properly validate input data structures, creating opportunities for attackers to craft malicious files that trigger buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking and input validation within the NEU file parser component. When the application attempts to parse malformed or specially crafted NEU files, the parsing logic does not adequately verify array indices or memory allocation limits, resulting in memory corruption that can be leveraged for code execution. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. The attack vector requires the target user to open a malicious NEU file, making this a classic file-based exploit scenario that can be delivered through social engineering or direct compromise of file sharing systems.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations using Simcenter Femap for finite element analysis and engineering simulations. The ability to execute arbitrary code in the context of the running application means that attackers could potentially gain full control over the engineering workstation, access sensitive design data, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks within the network. The impact extends beyond individual workstations since engineering environments often contain proprietary intellectual property and critical design information. The vulnerability affects all versions of the specified software releases, indicating that organizations must urgently assess their exposure and implement appropriate mitigations.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, as Siemens has released updates to address this vulnerability. Until patches are applied, administrators should implement strict file access controls and restrict the ability to open NEU files from untrusted sources. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can provide additional defensive layers to limit exploitation opportunities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in engineering applications and highlights the need for regular security assessments of specialized software tools. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions to identify potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability also underscores the broader challenge of securing specialized engineering software where traditional security measures may not be sufficient to protect against memory corruption attacks that can lead to complete system compromise.