CVE-2010-2590 in Crystal Reports
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the CrystalReports12.CrystalPrintControl.1 ActiveX control in PrintControl.dll 12.3.2.753 in SAP Crystal Reports 2008 SP3 Fix Pack 3.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long ServerResourceVersion property value.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2590 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw within the CrystalReports12.CrystalPrintControl.1 ActiveX control component of SAP Crystal Reports 2008 SP3 Fix Pack 3.2. This vulnerability specifically affects the PrintControl.dll file version 12.3.2.753 and exposes systems to remote code execution attacks through manipulation of the ServerResourceVersion property. The flaw exists in the handling of user-supplied input within the ActiveX control's memory management routines, creating a condition where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the heap. Such buffer overflow conditions are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the compromised application, typically resulting in full system compromise when the vulnerable ActiveX control is loaded in a web browser context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the ServerResourceVersion property handling mechanism of the Crystal Reports ActiveX control. When an attacker provides an excessively long string value to this property, the control fails to properly validate the input length before attempting to copy it into a fixed-size buffer allocated on the heap. This classic buffer overflow condition enables attackers to overwrite adjacent memory regions, potentially corrupting program execution flow or injecting malicious code. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 Heap-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in heap memory allocations where insufficient bounds checking permits data to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The exploitation requires the target system to have the vulnerable ActiveX control registered and accessible through a web browser, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may encounter malicious web content.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-2590 extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to systems running vulnerable versions of SAP Crystal Reports, potentially leading to data exfiltration, privilege escalation, or deployment of additional malware. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not need physical access to target systems, allowing for large-scale attacks against organizations with web-facing applications or systems that may load the vulnerable ActiveX control. Organizations using SAP Crystal Reports in their business intelligence or reporting workflows face significant risk, as the vulnerability can be triggered through web browsers when users visit malicious websites or open compromised documents containing the malicious ActiveX control reference.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-2590 must address both immediate protection and long-term remediation of the vulnerable system components. The primary recommendation involves disabling or removing the vulnerable CrystalReports12.CrystalPrintControl.1 ActiveX control from affected systems, particularly those accessible through web browsers where the control could be loaded automatically. Organizations should implement browser security policies that prevent automatic loading of ActiveX controls or restrict their execution to trusted zones only. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of the vulnerable PrintControl.dll file, which aligns with the principle of least privilege and helps reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping third-party software components updated, as SAP released subsequent versions that addressed this specific memory management flaw. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and implement intrusion detection systems that can identify attempts to exploit this specific buffer overflow condition, which may manifest as unusual memory access patterns or malformed input parameters in web requests.