CVE-2007-5048 in Lhaplus
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in Lhaplus before 1.55 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long filename in an ARJ archive.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5048 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw within the Lhaplus archiving utility version 1.54 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the handling of compressed archive files, specifically when processing ARJ format archives containing excessively long filenames. The flaw occurs during the decompression process where the software fails to properly validate the length of filenames before copying them into allocated heap memory buffers. This inadequate input validation creates a condition where an attacker can craft a malicious ARJ archive with an oversized filename that exceeds the bounds of the allocated buffer space, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited for arbitrary code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic heap overflow pattern where the attacker manipulates the memory layout by overflowing a heap-based buffer through a carefully constructed filename within the ARJ archive. When Lhaplus processes the archive, it attempts to store the excessively long filename in a pre-allocated heap buffer without proper bounds checking. This allows the attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses, function pointers, or other critical control data structures within the heap. The vulnerability maps to CWE-121 Heap-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue affecting heap memory management in software applications. The attack vector is remote since the vulnerability can be triggered through network-based delivery of malicious archives without requiring local system access.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-5048 extends beyond simple code execution to potentially enable full system compromise when exploited successfully. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain arbitrary code execution privileges within the context of the Lhaplus application, which typically runs with the privileges of the user who initiated the decompression process. This could result in privilege escalation scenarios depending on the execution context, particularly if the application runs with elevated privileges or if the user has administrative rights. The vulnerability affects systems where Lhaplus is installed and used for processing untrusted archive files, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter malicious archives from untrusted sources such as email attachments, file sharing platforms, or web downloads. The exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond opening the malicious archive, making it a particularly concerning threat vector for social engineering attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability center around immediate patching and software updates to Lhaplus version 1.55 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly validate filename lengths before heap allocation. Organizations should implement comprehensive software inventory management to identify all systems running vulnerable versions of Lhaplus and prioritize patch deployment across their infrastructure. Network-based defenses should include content filtering and sandboxing of archive files, particularly those from untrusted sources, to prevent automatic execution of potentially malicious archives. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual decompression activities or attempts to process unusually large filenames. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing principle of least privilege for applications that handle archive files, reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in memory management, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script injection, where the overflow could be leveraged to inject malicious code into the target system. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of potentially vulnerable archiving utilities unless explicitly required for business operations.