📄 Description (English)
PassFab Excel Password Recovery 8.3.1 contains a structured exception handling buffer overflow vulnerability that allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code by supplying a malicious payload in the registration code field. Attackers can craft a buffer overflow payload with a pop-pop-ret gadget and shellcode that triggers code execution when pasted into the Licensed E-mail and Registration Code field during the registration process.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
PassFab Excel Password Recovery 8.3.1 contains a critical buffer overflow vulnerability (CVE-2018-25219) in its registration code field that allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code with CVSS 8.4. The vulnerability exploits structured exception handling (SEH) mechanisms through crafted payloads containing pop-pop-ret gadgets and shellcode. No patch is available, and exploits are publicly available, making this a significant risk for organizations using this software.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 24, 2026 09:20
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability primarily impacts Saudi organizations in the financial and government sectors that use PassFab Excel Password Recovery for password management and recovery operations. Banking institutions (SAMA-regulated) and government agencies (NCA oversight) face the highest risk, as compromised systems could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive financial data, customer information, and classified documents. The local execution requirement limits exposure but remains critical for organizations where users have administrative privileges or shared workstations. Energy sector organizations (ARAMCO, related entities) and telecommunications providers (STC) managing Excel-based data repositories are also at risk.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Energy and Utilities
Telecommunications
Healthcare
Education
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
7.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
Immediate Actions:
1. Inventory all systems running PassFab Excel Password Recovery 8.3.1 and document their locations and data sensitivity levels
2. Restrict local access to affected systems through access control lists and user privilege management
3. Disable or uninstall PassFab Excel Password Recovery 8.3.1 if alternative solutions exist
4. Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized code execution
Patching Guidance:
- No official patch is available from PassFab; contact vendor for security updates or migration path
- Evaluate alternative password recovery solutions with active security support
- If continued use is necessary, apply the latest available version from PassFab
Compensating Controls:
1. Implement application sandboxing or virtualization for password recovery operations
2. Monitor process execution and registry modifications on affected systems using EDR solutions
3. Restrict registration code input to trusted sources only; disable copy-paste functionality if possible
4. Enforce code signing verification and disable SEH-based exploits through Windows Exploit Guard
5. Implement network segmentation to isolate systems running this software
Detection Rules:
- Monitor for abnormal process creation from PassFab Excel Password Recovery executable
- Alert on structured exception handler (SEH) overwrites or ROP gadget execution patterns
- Track modifications to system memory and unauthorized shellcode execution
- Log all registration code input attempts and flag suspicious character sequences (hex patterns, encoded payloads)
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. قم بحصر جميع الأنظمة التي تقوم بتشغيل PassFab Excel Password Recovery 8.3.1 وتوثيق مواقعها ومستويات حساسية البيانات
2. تقييد الوصول المحلي للأنظمة المتأثرة من خلال قوائم التحكم في الوصول وإدارة امتيازات المستخدم
3. تعطيل أو إلغاء تثبيت PassFab Excel Password Recovery 8.3.1 إذا كانت هناك حلول بديلة
4. تنفيذ قائمة بيضاء للتطبيقات لمنع تنفيذ الرمز غير المصرح به
إرشادات التصحيح:
- لا يتوفر تصحيح رسمي من PassFab؛ اتصل بالمورد للحصول على تحديثات الأمان أو مسار الترحيل
- قيّم حلول استرجاع كلمات المرور البديلة مع دعم أمان نشط
- إذا كان الاستخدام المستمر ضروريًا، طبّق أحدث إصدار متاح من PassFab
الضوابط التعويضية:
1. تنفيذ الحماية الرملية أو المحاكاة الافتراضية لعمليات استرجاع كلمات المرور
2. مراقبة تنفيذ العمليات وتعديلات السجل على الأنظمة المتأثرة باستخدام حلول EDR
3. تقييد إدخال رمز التسجيل للمصادر الموثوقة فقط؛ تعطيل وظيفة النسخ واللصق إن أمكن
4. فرض التحقق من التوقيع الرقمي وتعطيل الاستغلالات القائمة على SEH من خلال Windows Exploit Guard
5. تنفيذ تقسيم الشبكة لعزل الأنظمة التي تقوم بتشغيل هذا البرنامج
قواعد الكشف:
- مراقبة إنشاء العمليات غير الطبيعية من ملف PassFab Excel Password Recovery القابل للتنفيذ
- تنبيه على استبدال معالج الاستثناء المنظم (SEH) أو أنماط تنفيذ ROP gadget
- تتبع التعديلات على ذاكرة النظام وتنفيذ shellcode غير المصرح به
- تسجيل جميع محاولات إدخال رمز التسجيل والتنبيه على تسلسلات الأحرف المريبة (أنماط سادسة عشرية، حمولات مشفرة)
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 A.5.1.1 - Information Security Policies (vulnerability management)
ECC 2024 A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
ECC 2024 A.14.2.1 - Secure development policy
ECC 2024 A.16.1.5 - Response to information security incidents
🔵 SAMA CSF
SAMA CSF ID.RA-1 - Asset Management and Inventory
SAMA CSF PR.IP-12 - Software, firmware, and information integrity mechanisms
SAMA CSF DE.CM-8 - Vulnerability scans
SAMA CSF RS.RP-1 - Response planning
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
ISO 27001:2022 A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
ISO 27001:2022 A.14.2.1 - Secure development, test and acceptance
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.1.1 - Screening
ISO 27001:2022 A.5.23 - Information security for supplier relationships
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
PCI DSS 6.2 - Ensure security patches are installed within one month of release
PCI DSS 11.2 - Run automated vulnerability scanning tools regularly
🔗 References & Sources 4
🔗
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46301
disclosure@vulncheck.com
Exploit
VDB Entry
🔗
https://www.passfab.com/downloads/passfab-excel-password-recovery.exe
disclosure@vulncheck.com
Product
🔗
https://www.passfab.com/products/excel-password-recovery.html
disclosure@vulncheck.com
Product
🔗
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/passfab-excel-password-recovery-seh-buffer-overflow
disclosure@vulncheck.com
Third Party Advisory
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
passfab:excel_password_recovery