CVE-2018-25240 Overview
CVE-2018-25240 is a denial of service vulnerability affecting Watchr version 1.1.0.0. The vulnerability allows local attackers to crash the application by submitting an excessively long string to the search functionality. Specifically, attackers can paste a buffer of 8145 characters into the search bar and trigger a search operation to cause the application to crash.
Critical Impact
Local attackers can cause application availability disruption by exploiting improper input handling in the search functionality, leading to complete application crash.
Affected Products
- Watchr 1.1.0.0 (Microsoft Store Application)
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-04-04 - CVE-2018-25240 published to NVD
- 2026-04-07 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2018-25240
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-1260 (Improper Handling of Physical or Logical Conditions), indicating the application fails to properly handle edge cases involving excessively long input strings. The attack requires local access to the system where Watchr is installed, with no user interaction or special privileges required to execute the attack.
The denial of service condition occurs when the search functionality receives input that exceeds expected buffer boundaries. The application does not properly validate or limit the length of user-supplied search strings, resulting in a crash when processing the oversized input.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper input validation within Watchr's search functionality. The application fails to enforce appropriate length restrictions on user-supplied input before processing search operations. When a string of 8145 or more characters is submitted to the search bar, the application cannot handle the excessive input and crashes.
This is a classic example of inadequate boundary checking where the application does not verify that input falls within acceptable size limits before attempting to process it.
Attack Vector
The attack is executed locally on the target system. An attacker with local access to a machine running Watchr can exploit this vulnerability by:
- Opening the Watchr application
- Navigating to the search functionality
- Pasting a specially crafted string of at least 8145 characters into the search bar
- Initiating the search operation
The exploitation is straightforward and does not require any special tools or elevated privileges. The vulnerability was documented in Exploit-DB #46194.
Detection Methods for CVE-2018-25240
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected Watchr application crashes or termination events
- Windows Event Logs showing application fault events for Watchr process
- Multiple application restarts within a short timeframe
- Clipboard or input monitoring showing unusually long strings being pasted into the application
Detection Strategies
- Monitor Windows Event Logs for application crash events related to Watchr
- Implement endpoint monitoring to detect patterns of repeated application crashes
- Deploy application performance monitoring to identify abnormal resource consumption before crashes
Monitoring Recommendations
- Configure alerting for Watchr application fault events in Windows Event Viewer
- Establish baseline application stability metrics to identify deviation patterns
- Monitor system logs for evidence of exploitation attempts or repeated crashes
How to Mitigate CVE-2018-25240
Immediate Actions Required
- Evaluate whether Watchr is a business-critical application and assess risk tolerance
- Restrict local access to systems running Watchr to trusted users only
- Consider removing or disabling Watchr if it is not essential to operations
- Monitor for application crashes and investigate any suspicious patterns
Patch Information
No official patch information is currently available from the vendor. The application is distributed through the Microsoft Store. Users should check the Microsoft Store for any updated versions that may address this vulnerability.
For additional vulnerability details, refer to the VulnCheck Advisory on Watchr.
Workarounds
- Limit access to the Watchr application to trusted users only
- Consider using alternative applications that provide similar functionality with better input validation
- Implement application whitelisting to control which users can execute Watchr
- If Watchr is not essential, uninstall the application until a patch is available
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
