CVE-2008-2237 in OpenOffice
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in OpenOffice.org (OOo) 2.x before 2.4.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted WMF file associated with a StarOffice/StarSuite document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2237 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw discovered in OpenOffice.org version 2.x prior to 2.4.2. This vulnerability specifically affects the handling of Windows Metafile (WMF) graphics format within StarOffice and StarSuite document processing components. The flaw exists in the manner in which the software parses and processes WMF files embedded within office documents, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking during the parsing of WMF file structures. When OpenOffice.org encounters a WMF file within a document, the application attempts to allocate memory on the heap to store the parsed graphics data. However, the software fails to properly validate the size parameters contained within the WMF file header, allowing an attacker to craft a malicious WMF file with oversized data structures. This results in a buffer overflow condition where data written to the heap exceeds the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially overwriting adjacent memory regions including return addresses and function pointers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a remote code execution vector that can be exploited through social engineering attacks. Attackers can distribute malicious documents containing the crafted WMF files through email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing platforms. When victims open these documents with vulnerable versions of OpenOffice.org, the application automatically processes the embedded WMF graphics, triggering the buffer overflow and providing attackers with remote code execution capabilities. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes exploitation of software vulnerabilities for code execution.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to create a specially crafted WMF file that, when processed by the vulnerable OpenOffice.org application, causes memory corruption. The heap overflow can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory locations, potentially allowing attackers to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable software. The attack surface is particularly broad since OpenOffice.org was widely used in enterprise environments, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise multiple systems through a single malicious document.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2237 primarily involve immediate patching of affected OpenOffice.org installations to version 2.4.2 or later, which contains the necessary memory validation fixes. Organizations should also implement strict document filtering policies that prevent automatic processing of WMF files or other potentially dangerous graphics formats. Network-based security controls such as email filtering and web proxy configurations can help block malicious documents before they reach end users. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening documents from untrusted sources and should be encouraged to verify document authenticity before opening attachments. System hardening measures including stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and data execution prevention can provide additional defense-in-depth against exploitation attempts, though these protections are secondary to the primary patching requirement. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management in office productivity software, particularly when handling external graphics formats that may contain malformed data structures.