CVE-2024-20743 in Substance 3D Painter
Summary
by MITRE • 02/15/2024
Substance3D - Painter versions 9.1.1 and earlier are affected by an out-of-bounds write vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-20743 affects Substance3D Painter versions 9.1.1 and earlier, representing a critical out-of-bounds write flaw that can lead to arbitrary code execution. This vulnerability resides within the file parsing functionality of the software, specifically when processing maliciously crafted files that exploit memory corruption patterns. The issue manifests as an insufficient bounds checking mechanism that fails to validate input data length before writing to memory locations, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow through carefully constructed malicious files.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction, meaning that a victim must actively open or process a malicious file for the attack to succeed. This interaction requirement places the vulnerability in the category of client-side attacks that rely on social engineering or phishing techniques to deliver malicious payloads. The out-of-bounds write condition typically occurs when the application attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory buffer, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including function pointers, return addresses, or other critical program state information. This memory corruption can be leveraged to redirect program execution to attacker-controlled code, effectively allowing remote code execution with the privileges of the current user context.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant security risks for users who regularly work with 3D modeling and texturing software, particularly in professional environments where file sharing occurs frequently. The attack surface expands when considering that Substance3D Painter is commonly used in creative workflows where users may receive files from external sources, colleagues, or online repositories. The vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in enterprise settings where users may not be security-aware or where automated workflows might process untrusted files without proper validation. Attackers can craft malicious files that appear legitimate within the software context, making detection and prevention more challenging for end users and security teams.
The vulnerability maps to CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write, which is a well-established weakness in software development practices where applications fail to properly validate input data against buffer boundaries. This weakness is classified under the broader category of memory safety issues that frequently result in remote code execution vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique involving initial access through malicious file execution, with potential for privilege escalation once the code execution occurs. Organizations should consider implementing multiple layers of defense including application whitelisting, sandboxing of file processing, and regular security updates to protect against this class of vulnerability. The remediation approach should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions, with additional network segmentation and user education to reduce the risk of successful exploitation through social engineering attacks.