📄 Description (English)
Simple Startup Manager 1.17 contains a local buffer overflow vulnerability 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 and overwriting memory addresses to launch calc.exe.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2020-37031 is a local buffer overflow vulnerability in Simple Startup Manager 1.17 that allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code through a crafted 'File' input parameter. With a CVSS score of 8.4, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to systems where the application is installed, particularly in environments with elevated privileges. The exploit requires local access but can bypass DEP protections, making it a serious concern for endpoint security in Saudi organizations.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 24, 2026 13:56
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability primarily impacts Saudi government agencies, financial institutions, and enterprise environments where Simple Startup Manager may be deployed for system administration. Government entities under NCA oversight and banking sector organizations regulated by SAMA face elevated risk if this application is used in their IT infrastructure. The local nature of the exploit limits exposure to insider threats and compromised accounts, but the ability to bypass DEP and execute arbitrary code makes privilege escalation attacks particularly dangerous. Healthcare organizations and critical infrastructure operators using this tool for startup management should prioritize remediation.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Government
Banking and Financial Services
Healthcare
Energy and Utilities
Telecommunications
Enterprise IT
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
7.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
Immediate Actions:
1. Identify all systems running Simple Startup Manager 1.17 through asset inventory and endpoint detection tools
2. Restrict file access permissions to the application's configuration directories
3. Disable or uninstall Simple Startup Manager 1.17 if not actively required
4. Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized execution
Patching Guidance:
1. Upgrade Simple Startup Manager to version 1.18 or later immediately
2. Verify patch deployment across all affected endpoints
3. Test patches in non-production environments before full rollout
Compensating Controls:
1. Enforce principle of least privilege - restrict user account permissions
2. Enable DEP/ASLR at OS level (already bypassed by this exploit, but provides defense-in-depth)
3. Monitor process execution for suspicious calc.exe launches from unexpected parents
4. Implement file integrity monitoring on application directories
5. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect buffer overflow attempts
Detection Rules:
1. Monitor for Simple Startup Manager processes spawning calc.exe or other unexpected child processes
2. Alert on file write operations to memory-mapped regions from the application
3. Track failed DEP exceptions originating from Simple Startup Manager
4. Log all file parameter inputs exceeding 268 bytes to the application
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع الأنظمة التي تقوم بتشغيل Simple Startup Manager 1.17 من خلال جرد الأصول وأدوات كشف نقاط النهاية
2. تقييد أذونات الوصول إلى الملفات في دلائل تكوين التطبيق
3. تعطيل أو إلغاء تثبيت Simple Startup Manager 1.17 إذا لم تكن مطلوبة بنشاط
4. تنفيذ قائمة بيضاء للتطبيقات لمنع التنفيذ غير المصرح به
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. ترقية Simple Startup Manager إلى الإصدار 1.18 أو أحدث على الفور
2. التحقق من نشر التصحيح عبر جميع نقاط النهاية المتأثرة
3. اختبار التصحيحات في بيئات غير الإنتاج قبل الطرح الكامل
الضوابط التعويضية:
1. فرض مبدأ أقل امتياز - تقييد أذونات حساب المستخدم
2. تفعيل DEP/ASLR على مستوى نظام التشغيل
3. مراقبة تنفيذ العملية للإطلاقات المريبة لـ calc.exe من الآباء غير المتوقعين
4. تنفيذ مراقبة سلامة الملفات في دلائل التطبيق
5. استخدام حلول الكشف والاستجابة للنقاط النهائية (EDR)
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة عمليات Simple Startup Manager التي تولد calc.exe أو عمليات فرعية غير متوقعة
2. التنبيه على عمليات كتابة الملفات إلى المناطق المعينة للذاكرة من التطبيق
3. تتبع استثناءات DEP الفاشلة من Simple Startup Manager
4. تسجيل جميع مدخلات معامل الملف التي تتجاوز 268 بايت للتطبيق
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.5.1.1 - Information security policies and procedures
A.8.1.1 - User access management and authentication
A.12.2.1 - Change management procedures
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.RA-1 - Asset management and vulnerability identification
PR.IP-12 - Software development and change management
DE.CM-8 - Vulnerability scans and assessments
RS.MI-2 - Incident response and containment
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
A.14.2.1 - Secure development policy
A.12.2.1 - Change management
A.5.2.1 - Information security responsibilities