CVE-2023-49121: Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in Solid Edge SE2023

Overview

A critical vulnerability, dubbed as CVE-2023-49121, has been identified in Solid Edge SE2023, a powerful 3D design solution by Siemens. All versions prior to V223.0 Update 10 are susceptible to this heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability. This weakness, when successfully exploited, could allow an adversary to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current process, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage.
The severity and potential impact of this vulnerability underscore the necessity for rapid response and remediation from organizations that use Solid Edge SE2023 in their infrastructure. The exploit could have far-reaching implications, especially for industries that heavily rely on Solid Edge for their 3D design needs, like manufacturing, automotive, and aerospace industries.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2023-49121
Severity: High (CVSS 7.8)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Solid Edge SE2023 | All versions < V223.0 Update 10 How the Exploit Works

This vulnerability stems from a heap-based buffer overflow condition in the Solid Edge SE2023 application when processing specially crafted PAR files. An attacker can craft a malicious PAR file, which when loaded by the software, triggers the overflow condition. This can potentially corrupt memory data and allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current process. The execution of such code could lead to a complete system compromise or data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

Below is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. In this case, a malicious PAR file is created and used to trigger the buffer overflow when loaded by the application:

# Create a malicious PAR file with overflow-triggering contents
echo -e 'OVERFLOW_TRIGGER_DATA' > exploit.par
# Use the malicious PAR file with the vulnerable application
./SolidEdge SE2023 < exploit.par

Please note that the above example is highly simplified and conceptual. Actual exploitation would require a deep understanding of the software’s internals and memory management.

Recommended Mitigations

To mitigate this vulnerability, it is recommended to apply the vendor patch, which is available in version V223.0 Update 10 and later. In absence of the ability to apply the patch immediately, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as temporary mitigation. These systems should be configured to detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability. However, these are only interim solutions and the vendor patch should be applied as soon as feasible.