CVE-2007-3388 in Trolltech
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple format string vulnerabilities in (1) qtextedit.cpp, (2) qdatatable.cpp, (3) qsqldatabase.cpp, (4) qsqlindex.cpp, (5) qsqlrecord.cpp, (6) qglobal.cpp, and (7) qsvgdevice.cpp in QTextEdit in Trolltech Qt 3 before 3.3.8 20070727 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via format string specifiers in text used to compose an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2025
This vulnerability resides within the Trolltech Qt 3 framework's QTextEdit component, specifically affecting versions prior to 3.3.8 released on July 27, 2007. The flaw manifests as multiple format string vulnerabilities across seven different source files including qtextedit.cpp, qdatatable.cpp, qsqldatabase.cpp, qsqlindex.cpp, qsqlrecord.cpp, qglobal.cpp, and qsvgdevice.cpp. These vulnerabilities occur when the application processes user-supplied text that contains format string specifiers during error message composition, creating a classic buffer overflow condition that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code. The technical implementation involves improper handling of format string arguments where user input directly influences printf-style function calls without proper sanitization or validation. This represents a CWE-134 vulnerability classification under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, specifically categorized as an 'Uncontrolled Format String' weakness that allows attackers to manipulate the format string processing mechanism. The operational impact is severe as remote attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to gain arbitrary code execution on systems running vulnerable Qt applications, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input containing format specifiers that overwrite critical memory locations, including return addresses on the stack, thereby redirecting program execution flow. The vulnerability affects applications built using Qt 3 framework components, particularly those utilizing database operations and text editing functionalities where error messages might incorporate user input. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can execute arbitrary commands through the format string exploitation mechanism. The exploitation typically involves stack-based buffer overflows that can be used to overwrite function pointers or return addresses, allowing attackers to redirect execution to malicious code. The vulnerability exists because the Qt framework fails to properly escape or validate format string arguments before passing them to standard library functions, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate the program's execution flow through carefully crafted input strings. Organizations using Qt 3.x frameworks should immediately apply the patch released in version 3.3.8 or migrate to supported versions to mitigate this critical vulnerability. The remediation strategy involves implementing proper input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied data before it can be processed through format string functions, along with using safer alternative functions such as snprintf instead of sprintf where possible. Additionally, developers should avoid passing user-controlled data directly to printf-style functions without proper escaping or parameter validation to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.