CVE-2020-37031
Published: 30 January 2026
Summary
CVE-2020-37031 is a high-severity Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787) vulnerability in Ashkon (inferred from references). Its CVSS base score is 8.6 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068); ranked at the 5.6th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 CM-11 (User-installed Software) and SI-10 (Information Input Validation).
Deeper analysis
Simple Startup Manager version 1.17 suffers from a local buffer overflow vulnerability, classified as CWE-787, which enables attackers to execute arbitrary code. The flaw occurs through the 'File' input parameter, where insufficient bounds checking allows memory overwriting. This issue carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.4 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating high severity with low attack complexity, no required privileges, and significant impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Local attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious payload of 268 bytes, which triggers the buffer overflow and enables arbitrary code execution. The exploit bypasses Data Execution Prevention (DEP) by overwriting specific memory addresses, as demonstrated by payloads that launch calc.exe, providing a clear path to full system compromise on affected systems.
Advisories and related resources, including those from VulnCheck and an Exploit-DB entry (exploit 48678), detail the vulnerability and proof-of-concept exploit. The official software page is available at ashkon.com/startup_manager.html. No patches or specific mitigation steps are outlined in the provided details, emphasizing the need for users to discontinue use of version 1.17 or apply any vendor updates if available.
Public availability of the exploit on Exploit-DB highlights active proof-of-concept code, underscoring the risk for systems running the vulnerable software.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2020-30946
Vulnerability details
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…
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and overwriting memory addresses to launch calc.exe.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Local buffer overflow (CWE-787) in a user-facing application directly enables arbitrary code execution with high impact and no privileges required, mapping to exploitation for privilege escalation.
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Enforces validation and bounds checking on the 'File' input parameter to directly prevent the buffer overflow vulnerability (CWE-787).
Implements memory protection safeguards such as DEP, ASLR, and stack canaries to block arbitrary code execution from memory overwrites even if overflow occurs.
Restricts or prohibits installation and execution of unapproved user-installed software like vulnerable Simple Startup Manager 1.17.