CVE-2022-34285 in PADS Standard
Summary
by MITRE • 07/12/2022
A vulnerability has been identified in PADS Standard/Plus Viewer (All versions). The affected application is vulnerable to an out of bounds read past the end of an allocated buffer when parsing PCB files. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to leak information in the context of the current process. (FG-VD-22-050)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-34285 affects PADS Standard/Plus Viewer, a widely used application for viewing printed circuit board designs. This software serves as a critical tool in the electronics design automation domain, where it processes complex PCB file formats containing detailed circuit layouts and component placements. The affected application operates within a trusted execution environment where it handles sensitive design data from various sources, making it a potential target for information disclosure attacks. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application parses PCB files, which are binary formats containing structured data about circuit components, traces, and design layers that require careful handling to prevent memory corruption issues.
The technical flaw represents an out-of-bounds read condition that occurs during the parsing of PCB files, classified under CWE-125 as an "Out-of-bounds Read." This memory safety issue arises when the application attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries while processing PCB file structures. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and boundary checking within the file parsing routines, particularly when handling variable-length data fields within PCB format specifications. When the parser encounters malformed or specially crafted PCB files, it fails to properly validate array indices or buffer limits, leading to reads past the end of allocated memory regions. This condition allows the application to access adjacent memory locations that may contain sensitive data from other parts of the process memory space.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information leakage, as it can potentially expose sensitive design data, temporary variables, or even cryptographic keys that might reside in adjacent memory locations. An attacker leveraging this vulnerability could gain access to proprietary circuit designs, component specifications, or other confidential information that would otherwise remain protected within the application's memory space. The attack vector requires the victim to open a specially crafted PCB file, which makes this vulnerability particularly concerning in environments where users frequently process files from untrusted sources or when the application is used in automated processing pipelines. The vulnerability operates within the context of the current process, meaning that the information leakage occurs at the application level without requiring elevated privileges or system-level access.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and boundary checking mechanisms within the PCB file parsing code. The most effective approach involves adding proper array bounds checking and input sanitization routines that validate all data fields before processing, ensuring that memory access operations remain within allocated buffer boundaries. Application developers should also implement defensive programming practices such as using safe string handling functions, employing memory debugging tools during development, and conducting thorough code reviews focused on memory safety. Additionally, users should maintain current versions of the software and exercise caution when opening PCB files from unknown sources, implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as it represents a memory corruption vulnerability that could be exploited to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information within the application's memory space, potentially enabling further attack progression through information gathering and reconnaissance activities.