CVE-2007-5909 in Keyview Filter Sdk
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in Autonomy (formerly Verity) KeyView Viewer, Filter, and Export SDK before 9.2.0.12, as used by ActivePDF DocConverter, IBM Lotus Notes before 7.0.3, Symantec Mail Security, and other products, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted (1) AG file to kpagrdr.dll, (2) AW file to awsr.dll, (3) DLL or (4) EXE file to exesr.dll, (5) DOC file to mwsr.dll, (6) MIF file to mifsr.dll, (7) SAM file to lasr.dll, or (8) RTF file to rtfsr.dll. NOTE: the WPD (wp6sr.dll) vector is covered by CVE-2007-5910.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-5909 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow issue affecting Autonomy KeyView Viewer, Filter, and Export SDK components that were widely integrated into enterprise software solutions. This vulnerability impacts multiple Microsoft Windows-based applications including ActivePDF DocConverter, IBM Lotus Notes, and Symantec Mail Security, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by remote threat actors. The flaw exists within several specific DLL modules including kpagrdr.dll, awsr.dll, exesr.dll, mwsr.dll, mifsr.dll, lasr.dll, and rtfsr.dll, each handling different file format processing operations. These components are responsible for parsing and rendering various document formats including AG, AW, DLL, EXE, DOC, MIF, SAM, and RTF files, making the attack vector particularly broad and dangerous.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the KeyView SDK components. When processing maliciously crafted files of the specified formats, the affected DLL modules fail to properly bounds-check buffer allocations, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack. This memory corruption can lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected application process, potentially enabling complete system compromise. The vulnerability is classified as a stack-based buffer overflow, which means that the overflow occurs in the stack memory region where function parameters, return addresses, and local variables are stored, making it particularly susceptible to exploitation through return-oriented programming techniques or direct code injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple enterprise environments where these SDK components are deployed, creating widespread potential for exploitation. Organizations using affected versions of ActivePDF DocConverter, IBM Lotus Notes, or Symantec Mail Security face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and system compromise. The remote exploit capability means that attackers do not require local access to target systems, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for network-connected environments. The specific file format vectors indicate that the attack could occur through various document types, including email attachments, web downloads, or file transfers, increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified as a high-severity weakness in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, and represents a classic example of how software vulnerabilities in document processing libraries can create widespread security risks.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to Autonomy KeyView SDK versions 9.2.0.12 or later, which contain patches addressing these buffer overflow vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of affected systems, while monitoring for suspicious file processing activities should be enabled. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as exploitation typically involves executing malicious code through compromised applications. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted document processing components. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of affected software versions, while incident response procedures should be updated to address potential exploitation attempts targeting these specific DLL modules. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in document processing libraries, highlighting how seemingly innocuous file format parsing operations can become critical attack vectors when proper memory management is not implemented.