CVE-2007-6008 in Keyview Filter Sdk
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in emlsr.dll before 2.0.0.4 in Autonomy (formerly Verity) KeyView Viewer, Filter, and Export SDK allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long Content-Type header line in an EML file. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6008 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in the emlsr.dll component of Autonomy KeyView Viewer, Filter, and Export SDK versions prior to 2.0.0.4. This flaw resides within the email message processing functionality specifically when handling EML files, making it particularly dangerous in email-based attack scenarios. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation of the Content-Type header field within email messages, where an attacker can craft a malicious EML file containing an excessively long Content-Type header line that exceeds the allocated buffer space in memory.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the emlsr.dll library's inadequate bounds checking during the parsing of email headers, particularly focusing on the Content-Type field which is commonly used in MIME-formatted emails to specify the type of content being transmitted. When the library processes an EML file with an overly long Content-Type header, it fails to properly validate the length of the input data against the allocated buffer size, resulting in a heap-based buffer overflow condition. This overflow allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, typically running in a privileged context such as a mail server or email client.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it enables remote attackers to compromise systems that process email messages through the affected KeyView SDK components. The attack vector requires only the delivery of a specially crafted EML file containing the malicious Content-Type header, making it particularly effective for phishing campaigns, spam distribution, or targeted attacks against organizations that rely on email processing systems. The vulnerability's classification as a heap-based buffer overflow aligns with CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack and heap buffer overflow conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution through memory corruption attacks.
Systems utilizing Autonomy KeyView SDK for email processing, document conversion, or content filtering are at risk when running vulnerable versions of the software, particularly those that automatically process or scan incoming email messages without proper input sanitization. The vulnerability's exploitation potential is enhanced by the fact that email processing often occurs in privileged contexts where the executing code has elevated system permissions. Organizations using affected versions should consider immediate remediation through patching or implementing additional input validation measures to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in security-sensitive components, particularly in libraries that process untrusted data from external sources. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers leverage application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. The lack of proper bounds checking in the emlsr.dll library represents a fundamental security flaw that could be exploited to achieve complete system compromise, highlighting the necessity for robust memory safety practices in security-critical software components. Organizations should implement network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts and maintain up-to-date security patches to protect against known vulnerabilities in third-party software components.