CVE-2008-2152 in OpenOffice
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the rtl_allocateMemory function in sal/rtl/source/alloc_global.c in OpenOffice.org (OOo) 2.0 through 2.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted file that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2152 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the OpenOffice.org suite that affects versions 2.0 through 2.4. This issue resides in the rtl_allocateMemory function located in the sal/rtl/source/alloc_global.c source file, which forms part of the runtime library responsible for memory management within the office suite. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and arithmetic overflow handling when processing memory allocation requests, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted input can cause the system to allocate insufficient memory buffers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts a specially formatted file that, when opened by an affected OpenOffice.org version, triggers the vulnerable rtl_allocateMemory function. The integer overflow condition manifests during memory allocation calculations where the system attempts to compute the required buffer size for memory operations. When the calculation exceeds the maximum value that can be represented by the integer data type, the overflow causes the system to allocate a much smaller buffer than required, leading to heap-based buffer overflow conditions. This memory corruption allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on OpenOffice.org for document processing, as it enables remote code execution through simple file manipulation. The attack vector requires no user interaction beyond opening a malicious document, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently open external files or documents from untrusted sources. The vulnerability affects the core memory management functionality of the application, meaning that any document processing operation that requires memory allocation could potentially be exploited, including text processing, spreadsheet calculations, and presentation rendering components.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for remote code execution through application vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of OpenOffice.org, implementing strict file validation policies, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Additionally, users should be educated about the dangers of opening untrusted documents and organizations should consider implementing sandboxing techniques to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and memory management in preventing heap-based buffer overflow exploits that can lead to complete system compromise.