CVE-2023-35709 in Cobalt
Summary
by MITRE • 05/03/2024
Ashlar-Vellum Cobalt Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Ashlar-Vellum Cobalt. 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 CO files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. . Was ZDI-CAN-19928.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2024
The CVE-2023-35709 vulnerability represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in Ashlar-Vellum Cobalt software that enables remote code execution under specific conditions. This vulnerability resides within the CO file parsing functionality of the application, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through web-based attacks or by opening malicious files. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation during the processing of user-supplied data, specifically failing to properly validate the length of data before copying it into heap-based buffers. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, though the heap-based nature of this particular flaw makes it more complex and potentially more exploitable in certain scenarios. The vulnerability was previously tracked as ZDI-CAN-19928, indicating it was identified and documented by the Zero Day Initiative before being assigned the CVE identifier.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft malicious CO files or web content that, when processed by the vulnerable Cobalt application, triggers the buffer overflow condition. The attack vector is remote and requires user interaction, meaning victims must either visit a malicious webpage or open a specially crafted file containing the exploit payload. This user interaction requirement reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the threat, as social engineering techniques can be employed to convince users to interact with malicious content. The vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of the current process, potentially enabling full system compromise or privilege escalation depending on the application's execution privileges. This type of remote code execution vulnerability maps to the ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute code on target systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to affected systems and potentially escalate privileges to gain administrative control. Organizations using Ashlar-Vellum Cobalt applications are at risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within their networks. The heap-based nature of the buffer overflow means that memory corruption could potentially lead to application crashes or more sophisticated exploitation techniques such as return-oriented programming or just-in-time compilation attacks. The vulnerability affects installations where the Cobalt software processes user-supplied CO files, making it particularly concerning for environments where users frequently open external files or browse untrusted web content. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability as part of their cybersecurity defense strategy, as the combination of remote exploitability and user interaction requirements creates a significant risk profile. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in preventing memory corruption attacks, aligning with industry best practices for secure coding and the principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten for preventing buffer overflow vulnerabilities.