CVE-2007-1002 in Shared Memo
Summary
by MITRE
Format string vulnerability in the write_html function in calendar/gui/e-cal-component-memo-preview.c in Evolution Shared Memo 2.8.2.1, and possibly earlier versions, allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via format specifiers in the categories of a crafted shared memo.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2019
This vulnerability exists within the Evolution Shared Memo component version 2.8.2.1 and potentially earlier releases, specifically in the write_html function located at calendar/gui/e-cal-component-memo-preview.c. The flaw represents a classic format string vulnerability that occurs when user-supplied input containing format specifiers is processed without proper sanitization or validation. Attackers can craft malicious shared memos containing specially formatted category fields that, when processed by the vulnerable function, trigger unintended code execution. The vulnerability stems from the improper handling of user-provided data within a format string context, allowing attackers to manipulate the execution flow of the application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-134 which specifically addresses format string vulnerabilities where format string arguments are constructed from user-controlled data. When the write_html function processes memo categories containing format specifiers such as %s, %d, or other format directives, it fails to properly escape or validate these inputs before passing them to functions like printf or sprintf. This creates an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious format specifiers that can read from memory locations or write to arbitrary memory addresses, ultimately leading to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability is classified as user-assisted remote because the attack requires a user to open or process the crafted memo, but the remote execution occurs through the application's own processing mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Evolution application process. This could result in complete system compromise, especially if the application runs with elevated privileges. The attack vector requires a user to interact with a malicious shared memo, making it a social engineering target that could be delivered through various communication channels. The vulnerability affects not just individual users but entire organizational deployments where Evolution is used for shared calendar and memo management. Organizations using this version of Evolution are particularly at risk since the vulnerability exists in the core GUI component responsible for displaying memo information.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the affected Evolution versions to address the format string vulnerability. System administrators should implement strict input validation and sanitization for all user-provided data that gets processed through format string functions. The recommended approach includes using safe string formatting functions such as snprintf instead of sprintf, and ensuring that user input is properly escaped before being used in format string contexts. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other components of the Evolution suite or related applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a code injection technique under T1059, specifically targeting application-level vulnerabilities that allow arbitrary code execution through improper input handling.