CVE-2020-37142: 10-Strike Network Inventory Explorer RCE

CVE-2020-37142 Overview

CVE-2020-37142 is a Structured Exception Handler (SEH) buffer overflow vulnerability affecting 10-Strike Network Inventory Explorer version 8.54. This vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by overwriting SEH records through a specially crafted malicious payload targeting the Computer parameter during the Add function. The vulnerability is classified as a stack-based buffer overflow (CWE-121).

Critical Impact

Successful exploitation allows attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution on vulnerable systems by leveraging the SEH overwrite technique, potentially leading to complete system compromise.

Affected Products

• 10-Strike Network Inventory Explorer version 8.54
• Windows-based systems running the vulnerable software version

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-05 - CVE-2020-37142 published to NVD
• 2026-02-05 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2020-37142

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability resides in 10-Strike Network Inventory Explorer 8.54, a network inventory and asset management tool. The flaw occurs when processing the Computer parameter within the application's Add function. Due to insufficient bounds checking, an attacker can supply an overly long input string that overflows the stack buffer and overwrites the Structured Exception Handler (SEH) chain.

SEH is a Windows mechanism designed to handle software exceptions. When the SEH chain is corrupted, the attacker can redirect program execution to arbitrary memory locations when an exception is triggered. This classic exploitation technique bypasses certain stack-based protections and enables reliable code execution.

The local attack vector requires user interaction, as an attacker must convince a user to input or process the malicious payload through the application interface.

Root Cause

The root cause is a stack-based buffer overflow (CWE-121) in the input handling routine for the Computer parameter. The application fails to properly validate the length of user-supplied input before copying it to a fixed-size stack buffer. This allows data to overflow beyond the allocated buffer space and corrupt adjacent memory, including the SEH records stored on the stack.

Attack Vector

The attack is executed locally with user interaction required. An attacker crafts a malicious payload designed to overflow the stack buffer when entered into the Computer field during the Add operation. The payload is structured to:

1. Fill the vulnerable buffer to its capacity
2. Overwrite the stored SEH record with attacker-controlled addresses
3. Trigger an exception to invoke the corrupted exception handler
4. Redirect execution flow to attacker-supplied shellcode

The vulnerability mechanism involves overwriting SEH records on the stack through a carefully crafted buffer overflow. When the application subsequently triggers an exception, the corrupted SEH chain redirects execution to attacker-controlled memory. Technical details and proof-of-concept information are available in the Exploit-DB entry #48253 and the WhiteCr0wz blog post.

Detection Methods for CVE-2020-37142

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected crashes or exceptions in 10-Strike Network Inventory Explorer processes
• Anomalous process behavior following user interaction with the Add function
• Evidence of shellcode execution originating from the Network Inventory Explorer process
• Suspicious memory access patterns indicating stack buffer manipulation

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for abnormal process termination or exception handling in 10-Strike Network Inventory Explorer
• Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify SEH exploitation techniques
• Implement application whitelisting to detect unauthorized code execution from legitimate application processes
• Use memory protection technologies to detect stack buffer overflows and SEH chain corruption

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed application crash logging and analyze dump files for evidence of buffer overflow exploitation
• Configure SentinelOne agents to monitor for process injection and anomalous execution patterns
• Review system event logs for repeated application crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts
• Implement behavioral monitoring for suspicious activity following Network Inventory Explorer execution

How to Mitigate CVE-2020-37142

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict access to 10-Strike Network Inventory Explorer to trusted users only
• Consider removing or disabling the vulnerable software until a patch is available
• Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential compromise
• Deploy application control policies to monitor and restrict application behavior

Patch Information

No vendor patch information is currently available in the CVE data. Organizations should monitor the 10-Strike official website for security updates and consider upgrading to newer versions if available. Additional information may be found in the VulnCheck advisory.

Workarounds

• Restrict usage of the vulnerable Add function until a patch is available
• Implement strict input validation at the network perimeter if possible
• Use application sandboxing to contain potential exploitation attempts
• Deploy Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) protections at the OS level to increase exploitation difficulty

Mitigation for this vulnerability involves restricting access to the vulnerable application and implementing defense-in-depth controls. Since the attack requires local access and user interaction, limiting which users can execute the application and educating users about the risk of processing untrusted input are effective interim measures.