CVE-2023-28504 in UniData
Summary
by MITRE • 03/30/2023
Rocket Software UniData versions prior to 8.2.4 build 3003 and UniVerse versions prior to 11.3.5 build 1001 or 12.2.1 build 2002 suffer from a stack-based buffer overflow that can lead to remote code execution as the root user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-28504 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw affecting Rocket Software UniData and UniVerse database systems. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to specific build numbers including UniData 8.2.4 build 3003, UniVerse 11.3.5 build 1001, and UniVerse 12.2.1 build 2002. The flaw resides in the application's handling of input data within stack memory structures, creating a condition where maliciously crafted input can overwrite adjacent memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by its potential to enable remote code execution with root privileges, making it particularly dangerous for database environments that handle sensitive information and critical business operations.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow occurs when the application processes unvalidated input through network interfaces or data processing functions that do not properly bounds-check user-supplied data. When an attacker sends malicious input that exceeds the allocated stack buffer size, the excess data overflows into adjacent memory regions, potentially overwriting return addresses, function pointers, or other critical control data. This memory corruption can be leveraged to redirect program execution flow and inject malicious code that executes with the privileges of the running process. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in stack memory regions where insufficient bounds checking allows data to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-28504 extends beyond simple data corruption or application crashes, as it provides attackers with the capability to achieve complete system compromise. Remote code execution as root user represents a severe privilege escalation vulnerability that allows attackers to gain unrestricted access to the underlying operating system, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system modification, or deployment of additional malicious tools. Database systems are particularly attractive targets for attackers due to their typically high privileges and access to sensitive organizational data. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed database systems means that successful exploitation could affect critical business infrastructure, potentially leading to financial loss, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage. Organizations using these legacy database systems face significant risk exposure as the vulnerability can be exploited from remote locations without requiring local access or prior authentication.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-28504 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with the vendor-provided security updates. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of database systems to untrusted networks while monitoring for suspicious network activity or attempted exploitation. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems with signatures specific to this vulnerability and conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their database environments. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patches in staging environments before deployment to production systems. Additionally, organizations should review their database access controls and implement principle of least privilege configurations to minimize the potential impact of successful exploitation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving remote code execution and privilege escalation, requiring defensive measures that address both network-level protection and application-level input validation controls.