CVE-2022-40641 in SpaceClaim
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2022
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Ansys SpaceClaim 2022 R1. 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 X_B files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a write past the end of an allocated data structure. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-17317.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2022
CVE-2022-40641 represents a critical buffer overflow vulnerability affecting Ansys SpaceClaim 2022 R1 that enables remote code execution through improper input validation during X_B file parsing. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 buffer overflow category, specifically manifesting as a write past the end of an allocated buffer, which is a classic exploitation vector for arbitrary code execution. The flaw exists within the software's file parsing mechanism where insufficient validation of user-supplied data allows attackers to craft malicious X_B files that trigger memory corruption when processed by the application.
The attack scenario requires user interaction, making it a client-side exploitation vector that typically involves social engineering tactics such as phishing emails containing malicious attachments or compromised websites serving malicious files. When a user opens the crafted X_B file within SpaceClaim, the vulnerable parsing code executes without proper bounds checking, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers to overwrite critical memory locations. This vulnerability operates at the application level and can result in code execution with the privileges of the current user process, potentially allowing full system compromise if the application runs with elevated permissions.
From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to organizations using Ansys SpaceClaim for engineering and design work, as the software is frequently used in collaborative environments where file sharing is common. The exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond opening a malicious file, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently encounter compromised content. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially allow privilege escalation, lateral movement, and persistent access to target systems, especially when combined with other exploitation techniques.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment from Ansys, as the vendor has likely released a security update addressing this specific buffer overflow. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies, particularly for incoming files from untrusted sources, and consider sandboxing or virtualization of the SpaceClaim application to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Network-based controls such as email filtering and web proxy restrictions can help prevent users from accessing malicious content, while user education regarding suspicious file attachments remains crucial. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of unauthorized binaries and monitoring for unusual file access patterns can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in preventing memory corruption exploits, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution through file parsing vulnerabilities.