CVE-2010-2936 in OpenOffice
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in simpress.bin in the Impress module in OpenOffice.org (OOo) 2.x and 3.x before 3.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via crafted polygons in a PowerPoint document that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2936 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the Impress module of OpenOffice.org versions 2.x and 3.x prior to 3.3. This vulnerability specifically affects the simpress.bin component responsible for processing presentation documents, making it particularly dangerous as it targets the core functionality that users rely on for creating and viewing slide presentations. The flaw occurs when processing crafted polygon data within PowerPoint documents, demonstrating how legacy file format compatibility can introduce security risks. The vulnerability's classification as a heap-based buffer overflow indicates that malicious input can manipulate memory allocation patterns, potentially leading to unpredictable behavior in the application's execution environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the polygon processing routines of the Impress module. When OpenOffice.org encounters malformed polygon data in PowerPoint documents, the integer overflow condition causes the application to allocate insufficient memory for buffer operations, leading to memory corruption. This type of flaw typically manifests when the application attempts to calculate buffer sizes based on user-provided polygon coordinates without proper bounds checking. The vulnerability's exploitation potential spans from denial of service conditions that crash the application to more severe arbitrary code execution scenarios, depending on the specific memory corruption patterns and exploitation techniques employed by attackers. The heap-based nature of the buffer overflow places this vulnerability within the scope of CWE-129, which specifically addresses issues related to improper validation of buffer sizes and memory allocation boundaries.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-2936 extends beyond simple application instability, as it creates a potential attack surface that adversaries can leverage for more sophisticated compromise attempts. Organizations relying on OpenOffice.org for presentation creation and sharing face significant risk when processing untrusted PowerPoint documents, as the vulnerability can be triggered through simple file attachments or embedded content within documents. The remote attack vector means that users need not interact directly with malicious files, as simply opening a compromised document can trigger the exploit. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK framework under the technique of initial access through malicious files, with potential for privilege escalation if the application executes with elevated permissions. The vulnerability affects a wide range of users who depend on OpenOffice.org's compatibility with Microsoft Office formats, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where document sharing is common.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-2936 should prioritize immediate patch deployment for OpenOffice.org versions 3.3 and later, as this represents the most effective solution to address the root cause of the vulnerability. Organizations should implement strict document validation policies that prevent automatic opening of PowerPoint files from untrusted sources, particularly when these files originate from external networks or unknown senders. Network-based security controls such as email filtering and web application firewalls should be configured to block or quarantine PowerPoint documents until they have been scanned by security appliances. The vulnerability's susceptibility to exploitation through document processing makes it essential for organizations to establish comprehensive security awareness training programs that educate users about the risks of opening untrusted files. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict the execution of vulnerable OpenOffice.org versions until proper security patches have been deployed across all affected systems. The remediation process should also include thorough testing of patched versions to ensure that legitimate document processing continues to function correctly while eliminating the vulnerability conditions that allowed exploitation.