CVE-2012-4894 in SketchUp
Summary
by MITRE
Google SketchUp before 8.0.14346 (aka 8 Maintenance 3) allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted SKP file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4894 represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Google SketchUp software versions prior to 8.0.14346. This issue affects the desktop 3D modeling application that was widely used for architectural visualization, product design, and engineering applications. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the software's SKP file parser, which processes the proprietary SketchUp file format. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious SKP files that trigger buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions when opened by vulnerable versions of the application. The vulnerability is classified as user-assisted remote code execution because it requires the victim to open the specially crafted file, but the attack can be initiated from remote locations through various delivery mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper handling of file structures and data parsing within the SketchUp application's memory management system. When the application attempts to parse malformed SKP files, it fails to properly validate the size and structure of various data elements, leading to memory corruption conditions that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The memory corruption occurs during the file parsing phase when the application allocates memory based on malformed input data without sufficient bounds checking or sanitization measures.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations that rely on SketchUp for professional design work, as it can be exploited through social engineering attacks, email attachments, or malicious websites hosting compromised SKP files. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially allow full system compromise, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the logged-in user. This vulnerability affects the broader CAD and design ecosystem, as SketchUp files are frequently shared between teams and clients, making the attack surface particularly wide. The exploitation vector is particularly concerning because it can be delivered through legitimate business communications, making detection and prevention more challenging for security teams.
Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patch that updates SketchUp to version 8.0.14346 or later, which addresses the memory corruption issues through enhanced input validation and improved buffer management. Security teams should implement file scanning mechanisms to detect and block potentially malicious SKP files, particularly those received from untrusted sources. Network segmentation and user access controls should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping all design and visualization software up to date, as similar issues can exist in other CAD applications that process similar file formats. This case demonstrates the critical need for proper software security practices and the implementation of secure coding standards that prevent buffer overflows and memory corruption conditions in widely used applications. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict the execution of untrusted file formats, particularly in environments where design collaboration and file sharing are common practices. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for 'Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript' when considering the potential for script-based exploitation, and T1203 for 'Exploitation for Client Execution' when analyzing the delivery mechanisms and attack vectors.