CVE-2023-5179 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE-2023-5179 pertains to an issue discovered in Open Design Alliance Drawings SDK before version 2024.10. The vulnerability arises from a corrupted value for the start of MiniFat sector in a crafted DGN file, leading to an out-of-bounds read. This flaw could potentially allow attackers to execute a denial-of-service attack or even achieve code execution.

Understanding CVE-2023-5179

This section provides a comprehensive overview of the CVE-2023-5179 vulnerability, its impact, technical details, affected systems, exploitation mechanism, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-5179?

The vulnerability in CVE-2023-5179 is classified as CAPEC-540 - Overread Buffers. It involves a specific issue in the Open Design Alliance Drawings SDK that makes it susceptible to exploitation, potentially leading to severe consequences for affected systems.

The Impact of CVE-2023-5179

With a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (High Severity), the impact of CVE-2023-5179 is significant. The attack complexity is low, and the attack vector is local, with high impacts on availability, confidentiality, and integrity. User interaction is required, but no special privileges are necessary for exploitation.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-5179

The vulnerability description revolves around an out-of-bounds read issue (CWE-125) caused by the corrupted value of the MiniFat sector in a manipulated DGN file. Attackers could leverage this flaw to trigger a crash, potentially leading to denial-of-service or code execution.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in Open Design Alliance Drawings SDK before version 2024.10 allows for an out-of-bounds read due to a corrupted value in the MiniFat sector of a crafted DGN file. This vulnerability exposes systems to the risk of exploitation.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts all versions of ODA Drawings SDK before 2024.10. Systems utilizing these versions are vulnerable to the described out-of-bounds read issue when processing manipulated DGN files.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by crafting a malicious DGN file with a corrupted value for the start of the MiniFat sector. Upon processing such a file using the affected ODA Drawings SDK, an out-of-bounds read occurs, potentially leading to a crash or enabling further malicious activities.

Mitigation and Prevention

Addressing CVE-2023-5179 requires immediate action to secure systems against potential exploitation and mitigate associated risks.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to the latest version (2024.10) of ODA Drawings SDK to eliminate the vulnerability.
Implement proper input validation mechanisms to filter out potentially malicious DGN files.
Monitor and restrict access to vulnerable systems to minimize the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software components to ensure the latest security patches are applied.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities proactively.
Educate users and IT personnel on secure coding practices and the importance of software security.

Patching and Updates

Open Design Alliance has released version 2024.10 to address the vulnerability in Drawings SDK. Organizations utilizing the affected versions should promptly update to the latest release to protect their systems from potential exploitation.