CVE-2007-3667 in ActiveReportsExcelReport
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in EXCLEXPT.DLL in ActiveReportsExcelReport allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via the DDRow Height variable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3667 resides within the EXCLEXPT.DLL component of ActiveReportsExcelReport, a commercial reporting tool used for generating excel formatted reports. This flaw represents a denial of service vulnerability that can be exploited by remote attackers through manipulation of the DDRow Height variable. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the excel export functionality of the reporting engine, creating a potential pathway for malicious actors to disrupt service availability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input data specifically targeting the DDRow Height variable within the excel export process. This variable controls the row height dimensions in the generated excel output, and when improperly handled, can trigger unexpected behavior in the underlying EXCLEXPT.DLL library. The vulnerability manifests as a denial of service condition where the application or system processing the report crashes or becomes unresponsive, effectively preventing legitimate users from accessing the reporting functionality. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation as classified by CWE-20, which represents one of the most common software weaknesses leading to various security issues.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-3667 extends beyond simple service disruption, potentially affecting business continuity and operational efficiency for organizations relying on ActiveReportsExcelReport for their reporting needs. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause cascading effects within applications that depend on this reporting functionality, particularly in enterprise environments where automated report generation processes may be interrupted. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations with exposed reporting services or web applications that utilize this component.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which involves network denial of service attacks through exploitation of software vulnerabilities. The lack of specific error handling in the DDRow Height variable processing creates a predictable failure condition that attackers can leverage systematically. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of reporting services to untrusted networks. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for outdated reporting components that may contain unpatched vulnerabilities like CVE-2007-3667. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and robust error handling in commercial software libraries, particularly those handling user-supplied data in export and formatting functions.