Source: cve@mitre.org
Buffer overflow in Platinum Policy Compliance Manager (PCM) 7.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a long string to the Agent port (1827), which is handled by smaxagent.exe.
Platinum Policy Compliance Manager (PCM) 7.0 is vulnerable to a remote code execution (RCE) attack due to a buffer overflow in the smaxagent.exe process. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted, excessively long string to the agent port (1827), potentially gaining complete control of the affected system and leading to data breaches and system compromise.
Step 1: Target Identification: The attacker identifies systems running Platinum PCM 7.0 and determines the IP address and open port 1827.
Step 2: Payload Creation: The attacker crafts a malicious payload. This payload consists of a long string designed to overflow the buffer in smaxagent.exe. This string includes shellcode (machine code) that, when executed, will perform a desired action, such as opening a reverse shell.
Step 3: Payload Delivery: The attacker sends the crafted payload to the target system via a network connection to port 1827.
Step 4: Buffer Overflow: The smaxagent.exe process receives the oversized string. Due to the lack of input validation, the string overflows the allocated buffer.
Step 5: Code Execution: The overflow overwrites the return address on the stack. When the function returns, the program jumps to the attacker-controlled address containing the shellcode.
Step 6: Command Execution: The shellcode executes, granting the attacker a shell with the privileges of the smaxagent.exe process (likely SYSTEM or a high-privilege account).
The vulnerability lies within the smaxagent.exe process of Platinum PCM 7.0. The software fails to properly validate the size of input data received through port 1827. Specifically, when handling network requests, the program allocates a fixed-size buffer to store incoming data. By sending a string larger than the allocated buffer, an attacker can overwrite adjacent memory regions. This buffer overflow allows the attacker to overwrite critical data structures, including the return address, and redirect program execution to an attacker-controlled address. This allows for the execution of arbitrary code, effectively granting the attacker control over the compromised system. The root cause is a lack of bounds checking on the input data, combined with the use of vulnerable functions like strcpy or similar functions that do not perform bounds checking.
While no specific APT groups are definitively linked to the exploitation of this specific CVE, the nature of the vulnerability (RCE) makes it attractive to various threat actors. The impact of the vulnerability could be used to facilitate ransomware deployment, data theft, or lateral movement within a network. This vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog, but the age of the software and the potential for exploitation should be considered a risk.
Network traffic analysis: Monitor for unusually long strings or malformed packets sent to port 1827.
Host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS): Monitor for suspicious process activity, such as the execution of shellcode or the creation of unexpected processes by smaxagent.exe.
File integrity monitoring: Monitor for changes to the smaxagent.exe executable or related files.
SIEM alerts: Configure SIEM rules to detect anomalous network traffic patterns to port 1827 and suspicious process execution.
Memory forensics: Analyze memory dumps of the smaxagent.exe process for evidence of buffer overflows and shellcode injection.
Upgrade to a patched version of Platinum PCM (if available). Since this is an older product, this may not be possible. Consider replacing the product with a modern alternative.
Implement network segmentation: Isolate systems running Platinum PCM 7.0 from other critical network segments to limit the impact of a successful exploit.
Apply host-based intrusion detection and prevention systems (HIDS/HIPS): Deploy HIDS/HIPS to monitor and block suspicious activity on systems running the vulnerable software.
Implement strong network access controls: Restrict access to port 1827 to only authorized systems and users.
Regularly scan for vulnerabilities: Use vulnerability scanners to identify and address security weaknesses in the environment.
Consider disabling the agent if it's not essential for operations. If the agent is not required, disabling it will remove the attack surface.