CVE-2020-37031: Simple Startup Manager Buffer Overflow

CVE-2020-37031 Overview

CVE-2020-37031 is a local buffer overflow vulnerability in Simple Startup Manager version 1.17 that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by overwriting memory through the 'File' input parameter. Attackers can craft a malicious payload with 268 bytes to trigger code execution, bypassing DEP (Data Execution Prevention) and overwriting memory addresses to achieve arbitrary code execution.

Critical Impact

This vulnerability enables local attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to full system compromise through memory corruption exploitation.

Affected Products

• Simple Startup Manager 1.17
• Ashkon Startup Manager (related product line)
• Windows systems running affected software versions

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-30 - CVE-2020-37031 published to NVD
• 2026-02-04 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2020-37031

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write), which occurs when the software writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer. In Simple Startup Manager 1.17, the 'File' input parameter does not properly validate the length of user-supplied input before copying it to a fixed-size buffer on the stack. When an attacker provides input exceeding 268 bytes, the application writes beyond the allocated buffer space, corrupting adjacent memory including saved return addresses.

The local attack vector means an attacker must have local access to the target system to exploit this vulnerability. No privileges are required to trigger the overflow, and no user interaction is necessary once the attacker has local access. The successful exploitation results in complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation in the 'File' input parameter handling routine. The application fails to perform adequate bounds checking when processing file path input, allowing oversized input to overflow the destination buffer. This is a classic stack-based buffer overflow scenario where the application uses unsafe string handling functions without verifying the input length against the buffer capacity.

Attack Vector

The attack exploits the local 'File' input parameter by supplying a specially crafted payload of 268+ bytes. The overflow allows the attacker to:

1. Overwrite the saved return address on the stack
2. Bypass Data Execution Prevention (DEP) protections
3. Redirect execution flow to attacker-controlled code
4. Execute arbitrary commands (demonstrated with calc.exe execution)

The exploitation requires local access to the system where Simple Startup Manager is installed. The attacker crafts input that precisely overwrites memory addresses to gain control of program execution. Additional technical details are available in the Exploit-DB #48678 entry and the VulnCheck Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2020-37031

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected crashes or exceptions in Simple Startup Manager application
• Presence of abnormally long file path strings in application logs or memory
• Execution of unexpected processes (such as calc.exe or cmd.exe) spawned by the application
• Memory access violation events associated with the startup manager process

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for buffer overflow attack patterns in memory using endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions
• Implement application whitelisting to detect unauthorized process execution from the startup manager context
• Deploy SentinelOne Singularity Platform to detect and block exploitation attempts through behavioral analysis
• Use Windows Event Log monitoring for application crash events (Event ID 1000, 1001) related to Simple Startup Manager

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable enhanced logging on systems running Simple Startup Manager 1.17
• Configure alerts for process creation events where the parent process is Simple Startup Manager
• Monitor for DEP bypass attempts and return-oriented programming (ROP) chain execution patterns
• Implement file integrity monitoring on application directories

How to Mitigate CVE-2020-37031

Immediate Actions Required

• Remove or disable Simple Startup Manager 1.17 from production systems until a patch is available
• Restrict local access to systems running the vulnerable software
• Implement application sandboxing or virtualization to limit exploitation impact
• Deploy SentinelOne agents with exploit protection policies enabled

Patch Information

No vendor patch information is currently available in the CVE data. Organizations should check the Ashkon Startup Manager website for updated versions that may address this vulnerability. Consider migrating to alternative startup management solutions that do not contain this vulnerability.

Workarounds

• Uninstall Simple Startup Manager 1.17 and use alternative system startup management tools
• Apply application-level restrictions using Windows Software Restriction Policies or AppLocker
• Run the application in a sandboxed environment with limited privileges
• Implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement if exploitation occurs

# Windows command to check for installed vulnerable software
wmic product where "name like '%%Startup Manager%%'" get name,version

# Remove vulnerable application if found
wmic product where "name='Simple Startup Manager'" call uninstall /nointeractive