CVE-2012-4728 in Quattro Pro X6
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) QProGetNotebookWindowHandle and (2) Ordinal132 functions in QPW160.dll in Corel Quattro Pro X6 Standard Edition 16.0.0.388 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and crash) via a crafted QPW file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4728 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Corel Quattro Pro X6 Standard Edition version 16.0.0.388 and earlier. This issue manifests through two specific functions within the QPW160.dll dynamic link library namely the QProGetNotebookWindowHandle and Ordinal132 functions. The flaw enables remote attackers to exploit a NULL pointer dereference condition that results in application crashes and system instability. The vulnerability specifically targets the file parsing mechanism of Quattro Pro when processing specially crafted QPW files that contain malformed data structures designed to trigger the problematic code paths.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the QPW file parser component of the application. When Corel Quattro Pro attempts to process a maliciously constructed QPW file, the application fails to properly validate pointer references within the QProGetNotebookWindowHandle and Ordinal132 functions. This lack of proper validation leads to a NULL pointer dereference error, causing the application to immediately terminate and crash. The flaw operates at the application level rather than at the system level, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter untrusted QPW files through email attachments, web downloads, or shared network resources. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-476 which describes NULL pointer dereference conditions, and represents a classic example of insufficient error handling in software applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-4728 extends beyond simple application instability to potentially disrupt business operations within organizations that rely heavily on spreadsheet applications. When exploited, this vulnerability can cause unexpected application crashes during document processing, leading to data loss and productivity interruptions. In enterprise environments, this could result in significant downtime as users are unable to access critical financial or analytical data stored in Quattro Pro files. The remote nature of the attack means that users do not need physical access to the system to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly concerning for organizations with less sophisticated security controls. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain access to systems or disrupt operations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations to protect their systems from exploitation. The primary recommendation involves updating to the latest version of Corel Quattro Pro where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and error handling mechanisms. System administrators should also consider implementing file validation controls that prevent the automatic execution of potentially malicious QPW files, particularly in shared environments or when processing external documents. Network-based protections such as email filtering and web content scanning should be enhanced to detect and block suspicious QPW file attachments. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of opening untrusted spreadsheet files remains crucial in preventing successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper software quality assurance practices and the critical need for comprehensive input validation in all application components that process external data sources.