CVE-2025-33077 in Engineering Systems Design Rhapsody
Summary
by MITRE • 07/23/2025
IBM Engineering Systems Design Rhapsody 9.0.2, 10.0, and 10.0.1 is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow, caused by improper bounds checking. A local user could overflow the buffer and execute arbitrary code on the system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2025
IBM Engineering Systems Design Rhapsody versions 9.0.2, 10.0, and 10.0.1 contain a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability that represents a critical security risk for affected systems. This vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking mechanisms within the software's memory management implementation, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious code execution. The flaw manifests when the application processes input data that exceeds the allocated buffer size, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking permits data to overwrite adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only local user access to exploit, meaning an attacker with legitimate system credentials can potentially escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code with the same privileges as the targeted application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it creates potential pathways for privilege escalation and system compromise. When a buffer overflow occurs in a stack-based context, attackers can manipulate the return addresses of function calls, potentially redirecting program execution to malicious code injected into the buffer. This technique, known as return-oriented programming orROP exploitation, allows attackers to bypass modern security mechanisms such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of the Rhapsody software, indicating a systemic issue within the codebase rather than a isolated incident, which suggests that organizations using these specific versions face significant exposure. According to the attack technique framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, making it a particularly dangerous vector for attackers seeking persistent access to systems.
Organizations utilizing affected IBM Engineering Systems Design Rhapsody versions must implement immediate mitigations to protect their environments from potential exploitation. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates that address the buffer overflow condition through proper bounds checking implementations. System administrators should also consider implementing additional protective measures such as disabling unnecessary local user accounts, implementing strict access controls, and monitoring for anomalous process behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. From a defensive perspective, the vulnerability aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1547.001 for registry run keys, indicating that attackers might attempt to establish persistence mechanisms after initial exploitation. Network segmentation and privilege separation practices should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, as the vulnerability could allow attackers to gain elevated privileges and access to sensitive system resources. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any additional systems running affected software versions and ensure comprehensive patch management across their entire infrastructure.