CVE-2024-0429 in Hex Workshop
Summary
by MITRE • 01/11/2024
A denial service vulnerability has been found on Hex Workshop affecting version 6.7, an attacker could send a command line file arguments and control the Structured Exception Handler (SEH) records resulting in a service shutdown.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-0429 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Hex Workshop version 6.7, a widely used hexadecimal editor and file analysis tool. This issue stems from improper handling of command line arguments that directly influence the application's structured exception handling mechanisms. The vulnerability allows malicious actors to craft specific input parameters that manipulate the SEH chain, ultimately leading to application instability and complete service disruption. The affected software operates by processing file arguments through its command line interface, where inadequate validation permits attackers to inject malicious SEH records that corrupt the program's execution flow.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the structured exception handler records within the Windows operating system environment. When Hex Workshop processes command line arguments containing crafted SEH manipulation sequences, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize these inputs before incorporating them into its exception handling routines. This flaw directly maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflows, both of which can result in SEH manipulation attacks. The vulnerability leverages the application's lack of proper input sanitization and boundary checking mechanisms, allowing attackers to overwrite SEH records and redirect program execution flow to arbitrary memory locations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on Hex Workshop for forensic analysis, debugging, and file inspection tasks. The denial of service impact means that legitimate users could be unable to access critical analysis tools during security incidents or routine operations, potentially causing extended downtime and operational disruption. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where Hex Workshop is used for malware analysis or digital forensics, as attackers could exploit this weakness to disrupt ongoing investigations or prevent security teams from performing essential file analysis tasks. Additionally, the vulnerability's accessibility through command line arguments makes it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through automated scripts or social engineering campaigns without requiring complex exploitation techniques.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it demonstrates fundamental flaws in input validation and exception handling within the application's architecture. Security researchers have identified that the vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks through exploitation of application vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including restricting command line access to the application, implementing input validation controls, and deploying network segmentation to limit potential exploitation. The recommended approach involves updating to the latest version of Hex Workshop where the vulnerability has been patched, implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized execution, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts through unusual command line usage patterns. System administrators should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to identify and block malicious command line sequences that attempt to manipulate SEH records, as this vulnerability represents a clear indicator of potential exploitation attempts within security monitoring frameworks.