CVE-2014-5505 in Crystal Reports
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in SAP Crystal Reports allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted data source string in an RPT file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5505 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within SAP Crystal Reports software that exposes systems to remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability specifically affects the handling of data source strings within RPT files, which are the native report files used by SAP Crystal Reports for generating business intelligence reports. The flaw exists in the parsing mechanism that processes these data source specifications, where insufficient input validation leads to memory corruption when processing maliciously crafted input parameters.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking during the processing of RPT file data source strings. When a maliciously crafted RPT file containing an oversized or malformed data source string is opened by SAP Crystal Reports, the application fails to properly validate the input length before copying it into a fixed-size stack buffer. This classic buffer overflow condition allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses and control data, enabling arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected application process. The vulnerability falls under CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue that has been a persistent threat in software development for decades.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it provides attackers with a pathway to compromise entire enterprise environments where SAP Crystal Reports is deployed. Organizations using this reporting tool are at risk of unauthorized access to sensitive business data, system infiltration, and potential lateral movement within network perimeters. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability without requiring physical access to target systems, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with distributed computing environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate confidential information, or deploy additional malware payloads through the compromised reporting infrastructure.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability effectively. Immediate patching of affected SAP Crystal Reports versions represents the primary defense mechanism, as SAP released security updates specifically addressing this buffer overflow condition. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to systems running SAP Crystal Reports, particularly those that process untrusted RPT files from external sources. Input validation controls and file access restrictions can serve as additional defensive measures, though these should not be relied upon as primary defenses given the nature of the vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability exploitation under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, highlighting the need for comprehensive endpoint protection and monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior patterns associated with buffer overflow exploitation attempts.