CVE-2014-3693 in LibreOffice
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the socket manager of Impress Remote in LibreOffice 4.x before 4.2.7 and 4.3.x before 4.3.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted request to TCP port 1599.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2014-3693 represents a critical use-after-free flaw in the socket manager component of Impress Remote functionality within LibreOffice versions 4.x prior to 4.2.7 and 4.3.x prior to 4.3.3. This issue resides in the remote presentation control feature that allows users to control slide presentations from mobile devices or other computers through TCP port 1599. The flaw stems from improper memory management where freed memory locations are accessed after the original allocation has been released, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited by remote attackers to manipulate program execution flow.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the socket manager's handling of incoming network requests on TCP port 1599. When a crafted malicious request is sent to this port, the socket manager fails to properly validate or manage memory references, leading to a situation where freed memory blocks are accessed and potentially overwritten. This use-after-free condition manifests as either a denial of service through application crash or more critically, potential arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses the use of freed memory, and represents a classic memory safety issue that has been prevalent in network service implementations for decades. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it operates at the network level, making it accessible to remote attackers without requiring local system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential system compromise. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to crash the LibreOffice application, effectively preventing users from conducting presentations or accessing documents, which constitutes a significant denial of service attack. More concerning is the potential for arbitrary code execution, which could allow attackers to gain unauthorized control over affected systems. This risk is elevated because the vulnerability exists in a network-facing service that is commonly enabled during presentation scenarios, making it a prime target for exploitation. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a remote code execution technique that leverages memory corruption vulnerabilities, specifically mapping to the T1203 sub-technique for exploitation of remote services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected LibreOffice installations to versions 4.2.7 or 4.3.3 and later, which contain the necessary memory management fixes. System administrators should also implement network segmentation to restrict access to TCP port 1599, particularly in environments where remote presentation functionality is not required. The vulnerability can be addressed through firewall rules that block incoming connections to port 1599, though this approach is less ideal as it removes legitimate functionality. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling the Impress Remote feature entirely if it is not essential for their operations, as this eliminates the attack surface entirely. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar memory safety issues in other network services, as use-after-free vulnerabilities remain one of the most common and dangerous classes of memory corruption flaws in software applications.