CVE-2022-41278 in JT2Go
Summary
by MITRE • 12/13/2022
A vulnerability has been identified in JT2Go (All versions), Teamcenter Visualization V13.2 (All versions < V13.2.0.12), Teamcenter Visualization V13.3 (All versions < V13.3.0.8), Teamcenter Visualization V14.0 (All versions < V14.0.0.4), Teamcenter Visualization V14.1 (All versions < V14.1.0.6). The CGM_NIST_Loader.dll contains a null pointer dereference vulnerability while parsing specially crafted CGM files. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to crash the application causing denial of service condition.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2022-41278 represents a critical null pointer dereference flaw within the CGM_NIST_Loader.dll component of several Teamcenter Visualization and JT2Go software versions. This issue affects multiple product lines including Teamcenter Visualization V13.2, V13.3, V14.0, and V14.1, as well as all versions of JT2Go. The vulnerability manifests when the software processes specially crafted Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM) files, which are commonly used for storing vector graphics and technical drawings in engineering and manufacturing environments. The flaw resides in the loader module responsible for parsing these specific file formats, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the CGM_NIST_Loader.dll library. When the application encounters a malformed CGM file containing specific sequences or structures, the parsing routine fails to properly check for null pointers before attempting to dereference them. This classic programming error, categorized under CWE-476 as "NULL Pointer Dereference," occurs during the file processing phase when the software attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly initialized or allocated. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the file parsing level, meaning that any user or system that processes CGM files through the affected software components could be impacted. The flaw does not require authentication or elevated privileges, making it accessible to any attacker who can influence the file processing workflow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it can severely disrupt engineering and manufacturing workflows that rely heavily on these visualization tools. In enterprise environments where Teamcenter Visualization is used for product design reviews, technical documentation, and collaborative engineering processes, a denial of service attack could halt critical business operations. The vulnerability's exploitation could result in unexpected application crashes, forcing users to restart software applications and potentially lose unsaved work. Given that CGM files are commonly exchanged between different engineering systems and organizations, an attacker could potentially deliver malicious files through legitimate file transfer channels, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in production environments where file integrity cannot always be guaranteed.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates for all affected versions of Teamcenter Visualization and JT2Go software. System administrators should consider implementing network-based restrictions to limit the processing of untrusted CGM files, particularly in environments where such files might be received from external sources. The implementation of file validation mechanisms and sandboxing techniques can help reduce the attack surface by ensuring that only properly formatted files are processed by the affected applications. Additionally, monitoring and logging of file processing activities can help detect potential exploitation attempts. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers "File Deletion" through application crashes, and represents a classic example of how seemingly benign file processing functions can become attack vectors when proper input validation is absent. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other file processing components within the enterprise infrastructure.