CVE-2020-37198 Overview
CVE-2020-37198 is a denial of service vulnerability affecting Duplicate Cleaner Pro version 4.1.3. The vulnerability exists in the license key activation field, which fails to properly validate the length of user-supplied input. Attackers can exploit this flaw by injecting an oversized buffer (approximately 6000 bytes) into the license key field, causing the application to crash due to a stack-based buffer overflow (CWE-121).
Critical Impact
Attackers can reliably crash Duplicate Cleaner Pro 4.1.3 by pasting a specially crafted oversized payload into the license activation field, resulting in denial of service for legitimate users.
Affected Products
- Duplicate Cleaner Pro version 4.1.3
- Digital Volcano Duplicate Cleaner Pro (Windows desktop application)
Discovery Timeline
- February 11, 2026 - CVE-2020-37198 published to NVD
- February 12, 2026 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2020-37198
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified as CWE-121 (Stack-based Buffer Overflow). The license key validation mechanism in Duplicate Cleaner Pro 4.1.3 allocates a fixed-size buffer on the stack for processing user-supplied license key input. When an attacker provides input exceeding the expected buffer size, the application writes beyond the allocated memory boundary, corrupting adjacent stack memory and causing the application to crash.
The attack requires local access to the system where Duplicate Cleaner Pro is installed and user interaction to trigger the vulnerable code path through the license activation interface. While the impact is limited to application availability (no confidentiality or integrity impact), the vulnerability can be reliably exploited to cause repeated denial of service conditions.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper input validation in the license key processing functionality. The application does not enforce appropriate length restrictions on the license key field before copying the input into a fixed-size stack buffer. This allows an attacker to overflow the buffer by providing input that exceeds the allocated size, typically around 6000 bytes or more.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is local, requiring the attacker to have access to the target system where Duplicate Cleaner Pro is installed. The exploitation process involves:
- Launching Duplicate Cleaner Pro 4.1.3
- Navigating to the license activation dialog
- Generating a payload of approximately 6000 bytes
- Pasting the oversized payload into the license key input field
- Triggering the license validation process
When the application attempts to process the oversized input, it overflows the stack buffer, corrupts the stack frame, and causes the application to crash. Additional technical details and a proof-of-concept demonstrating this vulnerability can be found in the Exploit-DB entry #47873.
Detection Methods for CVE-2020-37198
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected crashes of the DuplicateCleanerPro.exe process with access violation errors
- Windows Error Reporting events indicating stack corruption in Duplicate Cleaner Pro
- Multiple application crash dumps in a short time period from Duplicate Cleaner Pro
Detection Strategies
- Monitor Windows Event Logs for application crashes related to Duplicate Cleaner Pro with exception codes indicating access violations (0xC0000005)
- Implement endpoint detection rules to identify clipboard operations containing unusually large text strings (>5000 bytes) targeting Duplicate Cleaner Pro processes
- Deploy application stability monitoring to detect repeated crash patterns in desktop applications
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable Windows Error Reporting and monitor for crashes in DuplicateCleanerPro.exe
- Use SentinelOne's behavioral AI to detect anomalous application terminations and potential denial of service attack patterns
- Review application crash logs periodically for signs of exploitation attempts
How to Mitigate CVE-2020-37198
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Duplicate Cleaner Pro to the latest available version from the Digital Volcano website
- Restrict access to systems running vulnerable versions to trusted users only
- Monitor application stability and investigate any unexpected crashes
Patch Information
Users should check the Digital Volcano homepage for the latest version of Duplicate Cleaner Pro that addresses this vulnerability. Additionally, consult the VulnCheck Advisory for detailed remediation guidance.
Workarounds
- Limit user access to the license activation functionality until a patch is applied
- Consider using alternative duplicate file management tools if a patched version is not available
- Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized access to the vulnerable application
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
