CAPEC-44: Overflow Binary Resource File

Description

An attack of this type exploits a buffer overflow vulnerability in the handling of binary resources. Binary resources may include music files like MP3, image files like JPEG files, and any other binary file. These attacks may pass unnoticed to the client machine through normal usage of files, such as a browser loading a seemingly innocent JPEG file. This can allow the adversary access to the execution stack and execute arbitrary code in the target process.

Extended Description

The fundamental difference is that embedded messages have a complete semantic quality, rather than mere imagery, and the mind of the target tends to key off of particular dominant patterns. The remaining information, carefully structured, speaks directly to the subconscious with a subtle, indirect, command. The effect is to produce a pattern of thinking that the attacker has predetermined but is buried within the message and not overtly stated. Structuring a human "buffer overflow" requires precise attention to detail and the use of information in a manner that distracts the conscious mind from the message the subconscious is receiving.

Severity :

Very High

Possibility :

High

Type :

Detailed

Relationships with other CAPECs

This table shows the other attack patterns and high level categories that are related to this attack pattern.

CAPEC-23: File Content Injection File Content Injection CAPEC-100: Overflow Buffers Overflow Buffers

Prerequisites

This table shows the other attack patterns and high level categories that are related to this attack pattern.

Target software processes binary resource files.
Target software contains a buffer overflow vulnerability reachable through input from a user-controllable binary resource file.

Skills required

This table shows the other attack patterns and high level categories that are related to this attack pattern.

Medium To modify file, deceive client into downloading, locate and exploit remote stack or heap vulnerability

Taxonomy mappings

Mappings to ATT&CK, OWASP and other frameworks.

Related CWE

A Related Weakness relationship associates a weakness with this attack pattern. Each association implies a weakness that must exist for a given attack to be successful.

CWE-119: Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer

CWE-120: Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')

CWE-697: Incorrect Comparison

Visit http://capec.mitre.org/ for more details.