CVE-2007-5747 in OpenOffice
Summary
by MITRE
Integer underflow in OpenOffice.org before 2.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a Quattro Pro (QPRO) file with crafted values that trigger an excessive loop and a stack-based buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/09/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-5747 represents a critical security flaw in OpenOffice.org versions prior to 2.4 that demonstrates the dangerous intersection of integer underflow conditions and memory corruption vulnerabilities. This issue specifically affects the handling of Quattro Pro spreadsheet files with the qpro file extension, exposing users to potential remote code execution and system instability. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the file parsing mechanism, where crafted integer values in the file structure can cause arithmetic underflow conditions that subsequently lead to exploitable memory corruption.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves an integer underflow condition that occurs during the processing of Quattro Pro file headers and metadata structures. When OpenOffice.org encounters a malformed qpro file containing crafted integer values, the application fails to properly validate the bounds of integer operations, leading to an underflow that can cause excessive looping behavior. This underflow condition creates a scenario where the application's internal loop counter becomes negative, resulting in an infinite or extremely long loop that consumes system resources and eventually leads to application crash. The flaw is further exacerbated by the subsequent stack-based buffer overflow that occurs as a result of the corrupted loop control mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on OpenOffice.org for document processing, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted documents from external sources. The remote attack vector means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability through email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing systems without requiring local access to the target system. The potential for arbitrary code execution adds an additional layer of severity beyond simple denial of service, as attackers could potentially gain control of affected systems. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios where social engineering can be combined with the technical exploit to achieve unauthorized system access.
The underlying cause of this vulnerability aligns with common software security weaknesses categorized under CWE-191, which deals with integer underflow conditions, and CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities. These classifications indicate that the flaw represents a fundamental issue in the application's memory management and input validation processes. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploitation of software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation and code execution, demonstrating how this specific flaw can be leveraged as part of broader attack campaigns. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and content filtering measures to prevent the automatic execution of potentially malicious documents, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted content from external sources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of OpenOffice.org installations to version 2.4 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the integer underflow and buffer overflow conditions. System administrators should also implement defensive measures including email filtering, web application firewalls, and restricted file type handling to prevent automatic execution of qpro files. Additionally, regular security assessments should include vulnerability scanning for outdated office suite installations, as this vulnerability represents a classic example of how seemingly minor input validation flaws can result in severe security consequences. The remediation process should also involve user education regarding the risks of opening untrusted documents and the importance of keeping software updated to address known vulnerabilities in document processing applications.