CVE-2007-5405 in Lotus Notes
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in kpagrdr.dll 2.0.0.2 and 10.3.0.0 in the Applix Presents reader in Autonomy (formerly Verity) KeyView, as used by IBM Lotus Notes, Symantec Mail Security, and activePDF DocConverter, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a .ag file with (1) a long ENCODING attribute in a *BEGIN tag, (2) a long token, or (3) the initial *BEGIN tag.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-5405 represents a critical buffer overflow issue affecting multiple software components within the Autonomy KeyView suite, specifically impacting kpagrdr.dll versions 2.0.0.2 and 10.3.0.0. This flaw manifests in applications including IBM Lotus Notes, Symantec Mail Security, and activePDF DocConverter, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by remote adversaries. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the parsing logic of .ag files, which are used for document format conversion and processing. These applications utilize the KeyView technology to handle various document formats, making them susceptible to malicious input that can trigger memory corruption.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves three distinct attack vectors that all lead to the same underlying buffer overflow condition. The first vector involves crafting a malicious .ag file with an excessively long ENCODING attribute within a BEGIN tag, while the second involves creating a file with an overly long token value, and the third involves manipulating the initial BEGIN tag itself. Each of these scenarios demonstrates a failure in bounds checking and input sanitization within the kpagrdr.dll library. The buffer overflow occurs when the application attempts to process these malformed inputs without proper validation, causing the program to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. This fundamental flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with controlled data, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple security domains and affects organizations relying on the affected software components. When successfully exploited, attackers can gain complete control over systems running vulnerable versions of IBM Lotus Notes, Symantec Mail Security, or activePDF DocConverter, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, and lateral movement within network environments. The remote exploitation capability means that adversaries do not require physical access or local credentials to carry out attacks, significantly increasing the threat surface. This vulnerability particularly affects email security systems and document processing platforms where users might encounter malicious .ag files in email attachments or automated processing workflows. The attack vectors are particularly concerning because .ag files are legitimate document formats that may be encountered in normal business operations, making this a stealthy and persistent threat. Organizations using these applications face potential compromise of sensitive data and system integrity, with the vulnerability potentially enabling privilege escalation or persistence mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-5405 should focus on immediate patching of affected software versions, implementing network-based restrictions on .ag file processing, and deploying application whitelisting controls. The most effective immediate solution involves updating to patched versions of the affected applications, as Autonomy (now part of Micro Focus) would have released security updates addressing these buffer overflow conditions. Organizations should also implement strict input validation and sanitization policies for all document processing workflows, particularly those involving email attachments or automated document conversion processes. Network segmentation and firewall rules can be configured to restrict access to vulnerable systems and limit the potential attack surface. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in document processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving execution through exploitation of remote code execution vulnerabilities and privilege escalation, with potential use of techniques such as T1059 for command execution and T1068 for privilege escalation. The vulnerability also demonstrates characteristics of T1203, which involves exploitation of software vulnerabilities for remote code execution, making it a critical target for defensive security operations.