CVE-2010-3453 in OpenOffice
Summary
by MITRE
The WW8ListManager::WW8ListManager function in oowriter in OpenOffice.org (OOo) 2.x and 3.x before 3.3 does not properly handle an unspecified number of list levels in user-defined list styles in WW8 data in a Microsoft Word document, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted .DOC file that triggers an out-of-bounds write.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3453 resides within the WW8ListManager::WW8ListManager function of OpenOffice.org's Writer component, specifically affecting versions 2.x and 3.x prior to 3.3. This flaw manifests when processing Microsoft Word documents containing user-defined list styles with an unspecified number of list levels in WW8 data format. The issue represents a critical security concern that demonstrates poor input validation and memory management practices within the document processing pipeline. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of document format parsing and memory safety, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited through crafted malicious documents.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking during the parsing of list structure data within Microsoft Word documents. When the WW8ListManager function encounters user-defined list styles with an excessive or unexpected number of list levels, it fails to properly validate the boundaries of memory allocations. This leads to an out-of-bounds write condition where the application attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory space for list management structures. The flaw is categorized under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, though it manifests as a more complex memory corruption issue. The vulnerability specifically targets the memory management mechanisms used for handling nested list structures, where the application's internal data structures become corrupted due to improper handling of list level specifications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enabling remote code execution, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments and users who process untrusted documents. An attacker can craft a malicious .DOC file that, when opened by an affected OpenOffice.org version, triggers the buffer overflow condition. The application crash occurs during document parsing, but the out-of-bounds write can potentially be leveraged for arbitrary code execution depending on memory layout and exploitation conditions. This vulnerability affects users across multiple operating systems including Windows, Linux, and macOS where OpenOffice.org is installed, creating widespread exposure. The attack vector requires only that a user open a specially crafted document, making it particularly insidious for phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks.
Organizations and users should immediately apply the security patches released by OpenOffice.org as part of version 3.3 and subsequent updates. The mitigation strategy involves not only updating the software but also implementing document validation policies that restrict processing of untrusted Office documents. Network security measures should include content filtering and sandboxing of document processing environments. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) as it enables remote code execution through document-based attacks. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and implement network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious document processing patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input sanitization and bounds checking in office productivity software, particularly for applications that handle multiple document formats and maintain compatibility with legacy formats.