CVE-2017-20241 Overview
CVE-2017-20241 is a heap-based buffer overflow in Keysight IxChariot Endpoint versions prior to 9.5.102. An unauthenticated remote attacker can send a specially crafted network packet to the endpoint service. Successful exploitation crashes the endpoint or enables arbitrary code execution in the context of the vulnerable process. The flaw is tracked under CWE-122 and requires no user interaction or privileges. IxChariot Endpoint is a network performance testing agent, typically deployed on internal test networks and lab infrastructure.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated network attackers can trigger heap corruption in IxChariot Endpoint, resulting in denial of service or remote code execution on affected hosts.
Affected Products
- Keysight IxChariot Endpoint versions before 9.5.102
- Deployments running the IxChariot Endpoint agent on Windows and Linux test hosts
- Lab and performance-testing environments exposing the endpoint listener on reachable networks
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-08-04 - CVE-2017-20241 published to NVD
- 2026-08-04 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2017-20241
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) in the packet parsing path of the IxChariot Endpoint service. The endpoint listens for control and measurement traffic from IxChariot consoles. A crafted packet with malformed length or field values causes the parser to write beyond an allocated heap buffer. Heap corruption at this stage can overwrite adjacent metadata, function pointers, or control structures used by the endpoint process.
Because the endpoint runs as a background agent and accepts network input without authentication, an attacker with network reachability can trigger the flaw directly. Depending on the runtime layout and available mitigations, exploitation ranges from process crash to arbitrary code execution under the endpoint's privilege level.
Root Cause
The root cause is insufficient bounds validation on attacker-controlled fields inside the IxChariot Endpoint packet handler. Length or size values embedded in the packet are trusted during memory copies into heap-allocated buffers. When a supplied value exceeds the destination allocation, the copy overruns the buffer and corrupts adjacent heap chunks. Vendor guidance and technical detail are published in the Keysight Security Advisory and the CISA CSAF document.
Attack Vector
Exploitation occurs over the network against the IxChariot Endpoint listener. The attacker does not need credentials, user interaction, or prior access to a console. Any host that can reach the endpoint on its listening port can deliver the malicious packet. Environments that expose IxChariot agents beyond isolated lab segments face the highest risk of opportunistic exploitation.
No verified proof-of-concept code is publicly published. See the CVE-2017-20241 record for authoritative references. EPSS currently rates the exploit probability at 0.716%.
Detection Methods for CVE-2017-20241
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected termination or repeated restarts of the IxChariot Endpoint service on managed test hosts
- Anomalous inbound traffic to IxChariot listener ports from systems that are not authorized IxChariot consoles
- Crash dumps or Windows Error Reporting artifacts referencing the IxChariot Endpoint binary
- Outbound connections from the endpoint host immediately following inbound IxChariot traffic, indicating possible post-exploitation activity
Detection Strategies
- Inspect network flows for connections to IxChariot Endpoint ports originating from non-approved source addresses
- Alert on process crashes and abnormal child processes spawned by the IxChariot Endpoint service
- Correlate host telemetry with packet captures on lab segments to identify malformed IxChariot control packets
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable endpoint detection and response telemetry on hosts running IxChariot Endpoint and monitor process integrity events
- Deploy network intrusion detection signatures for oversized or malformed IxChariot control payloads
- Log and review all administrative access to test lab segments hosting IxChariot components
How to Mitigate CVE-2017-20241
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Keysight IxChariot Endpoint to version 9.5.102 or later on all affected hosts
- Inventory every system running the IxChariot Endpoint agent, including transient lab and QA machines
- Restrict network reachability to the endpoint listener to authorized IxChariot console addresses only
- Monitor patched and unpatched hosts for the crash and traffic indicators listed above until remediation completes
Patch Information
Keysight has released a fixed version of IxChariot Endpoint. Upgrade to 9.5.102 or later as documented in the Keysight Security Advisory. Coordinated advisory content is also available via the CISA CSAF document.
Workarounds
- Isolate IxChariot Endpoint hosts on dedicated test VLANs with no exposure to production or untrusted networks
- Apply host-based firewall rules that allow the endpoint listener only from known console IP addresses
- Stop or disable the IxChariot Endpoint service on systems that do not currently require it until the patch is applied
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
