External risk intelligence

WinMTR Denial of Service Via Malformed File.

CVE advisorySeverity: HIGH (CVSS 8.7)

CVE-2018-25426

A vulnerability in WinMTR allows a denial of service if the application processes a malformed file. This could lead to application crashes, impacting network troubleshooting for employees. The risk stems from attackers sending crafted input that triggers a buffer overflow.

1Halo Surface Signal

Buffer Overflow

Winmtr

0.91

External exposure likelihood

Halo Surface Signal score for CVE-2018-25426

WinMTR is a diagnostic desktop utility used for network troubleshooting by a local user. The vulnerability requires the application to process a specially crafted input file, which is a client-side activity and not a service exposed to the public internet.

CVSS vector

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

WinMTR, a network diagnostic tool, has a vulnerability that can be exploited by processing a specially crafted input file. This flaw could lead to an application crash, disrupting the functionality of the tool. The core issue lies in the application's handling of specific data inputs, which can trigger a buffer overflow. This could impact the usability of the tool for organizations relying on it for network analysis.

  • Vulnerable component: WinMTR application
  • Core weakness: Malformed payload triggers buffer overflow
  • Main business impact: Application crash, service disruption

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

This vulnerability allows for a denial of service by crashing the application. Attackers can exploit this by providing a malformed file containing a large buffer of repeated characters. This crafted input can trigger a buffer overflow, leading to the application's termination.

  • Exposure: Application processes crafted input file.
  • Attacker access: No authentication required.
  • Trigger: Malformed payload causes crash.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

A vulnerability in WinMTR, a network diagnostic tool, could allow attackers to cause the application to crash. This crash occurs when the application processes a specially crafted input file that triggers a buffer overflow. The severity of this vulnerability is high, indicating a significant potential impact on affected systems.

  • Likely attacker skill level: Low
  • Required access or conditions: User must open a malformed file.
  • Business risk or urgency: High

Priority actions

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This vulnerability in WinMTR involves a denial-of-service condition triggered by a malformed payload file. Attackers could exploit this by providing a specially crafted input file, causing the application to crash. This could disrupt network troubleshooting activities for affected employees using the WinMTR application.

  • Identify all systems using WinMTR.
  • Restrict processing of untrusted files.
  • Apply vendor updates when available.
  • Verify the fix is applied.
  • Monitor for crashes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the software context for CVE-2018-25426 in WinMTR?

CVE-2018-25426 affects WinMTR version 0.91. WinMTR is a diagnostic desktop utility used for network troubleshooting by local users. It is not a service exposed to the public internet, making its exploitation a client-side activity.

How is the WinMTR vulnerability decoded, and what is its weakness class?

The vulnerability in WinMTR 0.91 is a denial-of-service (DoS) flaw, classified under CWE-120, which is a buffer overflow. Attackers can exploit this by sending a malformed payload file containing a large buffer of repeated characters. This crafted input triggers the buffer overflow condition, causing the application to crash.

What is the trigger path and scope negation for this WinMTR vulnerability?

The trigger path involves an attacker creating a specially crafted input file containing 238 bytes of data designed to cause a buffer overflow. This malformed payload is then processed by the WinMTR application. The scope is limited to the individual WinMTR application instance processing the file, and there is no negation of scope as the attacker directly causes the crash by providing the malicious input.

What is the relevance of the Halo Surface Signal for CVE-2018-25426?

Halo classifies this CVE as 'Very unlikely' to be exploited by external threats. This is because WinMTR is a local diagnostic tool, and the vulnerability requires user interaction to process a crafted file, rather than being a service exposed to the internet. The CVSS v4.0 Attack Vector is Network, but Halo's assessment considers the practical use case and typical deployment of WinMTR.

What practical response is recommended for the WinMTR vulnerability?

To address the WinMTR denial-of-service vulnerability, organizations should identify all systems using WinMTR, restrict the processing of untrusted files, and apply vendor updates when available. It is also recommended to verify that the fix has been applied and to monitor for any application crashes.

References

Sources and related resources

Primary sources: NVD, CVE.org.

NVDPublished Modified