# CVE-2018-8835: Use after free in Advantech WebAccess HMI Designer

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code by tricking users into opening malicious .pm3 files in Advantech WebAccess HMI Designer.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 25 Apr 2018
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-fgg6-xp7m-p38q

## What is CVE-2018-8835?

CVE-2018-8835 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in ICS-CERT Advantech WebAccess HMI Designer, published on 25 Apr 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Double free vulnerabilities in Advantech WebAccess HMI Designer 2.1.7.32 and prior caused by processing specially crafted .pm3 files may allow remote code execution.

Weakness: CWE-415 (Double Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-8835?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Advantech Webaccess Hmi Designer.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-8835?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-8835 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-8835 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-8835 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in ICS-CERT Advantech WebAccess HMI Designer

- [CVE-2019-10961](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-10961/): Memory corruption in Advantech WebAccess HMI Designer (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-42706](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42706/): AzeoTech DAQFactory (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2018-8833](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-8833/): Memory corruption in Advantech WebAccess HMI Designer (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2018-8837](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-8837/): Memory corruption in Advantech WebAccess HMI Designer (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2021-42703](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42703/): AzeoTech DAQFactory (medium 5.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-8835 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-8835 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in ICS-CERT Advantech WebAccess HMI Designer, published on 25 Apr 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-8835 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: ICS-CERT Advantech WebAccess HMI Designer. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-8835/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-8835/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-8835
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-8835
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-8835

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-8835/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.