libxls 1.4 xls_mergedCells XLS File out-of-bounds write

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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7.2$0-$5k0.00

A vulnerability was found in libxls 1.4. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function xls_mergedCells. The manipulation as part of a XLS File leads to a out-of-bounds write vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-787. The product writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

An exploitable out-of-bounds write vulnerability exists in the xls_mergedCells function of libxls 1.4. . A specially crafted XLS file can cause a memory corruption resulting in remote code execution. An attacker can send malicious XLS file to trigger this vulnerability.

The bug was discovered 11/15/2017. The weakness was presented 11/20/2017 (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at talosintelligence.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2017-2896 since 12/01/2016. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 5 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $0-$5k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 109065 (Debian DSA-4173-1 : r-cran-readxl - security update), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Debian Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 176356 (Debian Security Update for r-cran-readxl (DSA 4173-1)).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published 6 months after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (109065). See VDB-109747, VDB-109748, VDB-109764 and VDB-109765 for similar entries. If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Productinfo

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Version

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
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CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.2

VulDB Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Temp Score: 5.1
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 8.8
CNA Vector (Talos): 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

Class: Out-of-bounds write
CWE: CWE-787 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

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Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 109065
Nessus Name: Debian DSA-4173-1 : r-cran-readxl - security update
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 861429
OpenVAS Name: Debian Security Advisory DSA 4173-1 (r-cran-readxl - security update)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
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Timelineinfo

12/01/2016 🔍
11/15/2017 +349 days 🔍
11/20/2017 +5 days 🔍
11/20/2017 +0 days 🔍
11/21/2017 +1 days 🔍
04/16/2018 +146 days 🔍
04/17/2018 +1 days 🔍
01/11/2023 +1730 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: talosintelligence.com
Status: Not defined

CVE: CVE-2017-2896 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2017-2896
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-109763

OVAL: 🔍
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 11/21/2017 07:50 AM
Updated: 01/11/2023 08:37 AM
Changes: 11/21/2017 07:50 AM (64), 12/09/2019 09:28 AM (12), 01/11/2023 08:37 AM (14)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 18:022:40

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