Description

Buffer overflow vulnerability exists in Contec RP-WAH-SR Series. If a remote attacker sends a specially crafted request to the product's web service, an arbitrary program may be executed.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "8.8",
  "pubDate": "2026-09-14T07:17:18.277Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-09-14T07:17:18.277Z",
  "executiveSummary": "The Contec RP-WAH-SR Series is susceptible to a buffer overflow vulnerability within its integrated web service. This security flaw allows a remote, unauthenticated attacker to inject and execute arbitrary code on the target hardware. The vulnerability resides in the improper handling of network requests, which enables memory corruption by overflowing input buffers. If successfully exploited, the attacker can gain unauthorized control over the device, leading to full system compromise. The impact includes the potential for remote code execution, manipulation of device operations, and complete loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. This risk is particularly critical for industrial or networked deployments where the device is exposed to untrusted network segments. Exploitation requires only the ability to reach the device's web service interface with a specifically crafted network payload, bypassing standard access controls. Due to the nature of buffer overflow attacks, the execution often occurs within the context of the service user, potentially providing elevated privileges depending on the implementation architecture.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability is classified as a classic stack-based or heap-based buffer overflow occurring within the web service component of the Contec RP-WAH-SR Series. Root cause analysis indicates that the web server software fails to perform adequate bounds checking on incoming data packets before copying them into fixed-size memory buffers. When a remote attacker transmits a specially crafted HTTP request, the excess data exceeds the capacity of the destination buffer, resulting in an overflow condition.\nThe exploitation method involves the injection of a malicious payload designed to overwrite critical process memory, such as the function return address or saved frame pointers. By carefully constructing the payload, an attacker can manipulate the program execution flow to redirect control to shellcode embedded within the input data. This process often involves NOP sleds or return-oriented programming (ROP) chains to bypass modern memory protection mechanisms, such as ASLR or DEP, if implemented within the target system environment.\nThe attack flow proceeds as follows: First, the attacker identifies the target web service port and establishes a connection. Second, the attacker transmits the crafted malicious request, which is deliberately sized to exceed the expected input buffer limits. Third, the overflow triggers an overwrite of the internal stack structure. Fourth, the malicious instruction pointer redirection forces the CPU to execute the arbitrary code contained within the request payload. Finally, the attacker achieves arbitrary program execution, allowing for the deployment of persistent threats, command-and-control communication, or the exfiltration of sensitive configuration data.\nThe vulnerable component is the web service responsible for managing device configuration and administrative interactions. Given that this service is typically exposed to the network to facilitate remote management, the attack surface is significant for any device connected to a reachable network segment. The lack of validation on input size serves as the primary failure point. Post-exploitation, the impact is severe, as the attacker effectively operates with the permissions of the vulnerable web service process, which often possesses the necessary privileges to modify system settings or firmware parameters, leading to a permanent compromise of the device's integrity and functional state."
}