CVE-2022-23946 in EDA
Summary
by MITRE • 02/05/2022
A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the Gerber Viewer gerber and excellon GCodeNumber parsing functionality of KiCad EDA 6.0.1 and master commit de006fc010. A specially-crafted gerber or excellon file can lead to code execution. An attacker can provide a malicious file to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2022-23946 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow in KiCad EDA's Gerber Viewer component, specifically within the parsing logic for gerber and excellon GCodeNumber formats. This flaw exists in KiCad EDA version 6.0.1 and earlier versions including the master commit de006fc010, making it a widespread issue affecting the popular open-source electronic design automation software. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking during the parsing of manufacturing data files that are commonly used in printed circuit board design and manufacturing processes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the Gerber Viewer component processes specially crafted gerber or excellon files containing malformed GCodeNumber data structures. The parsing function fails to properly validate the length of input data before copying it into fixed-size stack buffers, creating a classic buffer overflow condition. When an attacker supplies a malicious file with oversized numeric values or malformed data sequences, the parsing routine overflows the allocated stack space, potentially corrupting adjacent memory locations and allowing arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified as a critical weakness in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog due to its potential for remote code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a significant threat to the integrity of electronic design workflows. Attackers could potentially compromise design environments by delivering malicious manufacturing files through various attack vectors including email attachments, file sharing platforms, or supply chain compromise scenarios. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of KiCad's Gerber Viewer, which is essential for viewing and validating PCB manufacturing files, making it particularly dangerous for design teams who rely on these tools for production data verification. The attack surface is broad since gerber and excellon files are standard formats used across the electronics industry for PCB fabrication, meaning any user who opens such files with vulnerable KiCad versions could be at risk. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute code on target systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-23946 should prioritize immediate software updates to patched versions of KiCad EDA where available, as this represents a critical security issue requiring prompt remediation. System administrators should implement strict file validation policies for manufacturing data files, particularly those from untrusted sources, and consider sandboxing or virtualized environments for opening potentially malicious files. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and bounds checking in security-critical applications, and organizations should review their software supply chain processes to ensure they are using secure, up-to-date versions of development tools. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure, while security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Given the nature of the vulnerability, users should also consider disabling automatic file opening features for gerber and excellon formats until proper patches are applied, and maintain regular backups of critical design data to mitigate potential impact from successful exploitation attempts.