CVE-2014-9456 in Notepad++
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in NotePad++ 6.6.9 allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact via a long Time attribute in an Event element in an XML file. NOTE: this issue was originally incorrectly mapped to CVE-2014-1004; see CVE-2014-1004 for more information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9456 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the NotePad++ text editor version 6.6.9. This security weakness specifically manifests when the application processes XML files containing malformed Event elements with excessively long Time attributes. The buffer overflow occurs during the parsing of structured markup data, creating an exploitable condition that could potentially be leveraged by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause application instability. The vulnerability's classification as a buffer overflow aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The improper handling of input data during XML parsing demonstrates a classic software security flaw that has been documented in numerous applications across different platforms and operating systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious XML file containing an Event element with an abnormally long Time attribute value. When NotePad++ attempts to parse this malformed XML structure, the application fails to properly validate the length of the Time attribute, leading to memory corruption that can result in stack or heap overflows. The unspecified impact mentioned in the CVE description suggests that the vulnerability could potentially lead to various outcomes including application crashes, denial of service conditions, or more severe consequences such as remote code execution depending on the execution environment and memory layout. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves the exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access or execute malicious code within the target system. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate bounds checking mechanisms that are fundamental requirements for secure software development.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9456 extends beyond simple application instability to potentially compromise entire systems where NotePad++ is used for document processing. Since NotePad++ is widely deployed across various environments including enterprise networks, development teams, and individual users, the vulnerability creates a significant attack surface that could be exploited in targeted attacks or automated exploitation campaigns. The remote attack vector means that adversaries could deliver malicious XML files through various channels including email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing platforms without requiring local access to the target system. Organizations using NotePad++ for processing untrusted XML data, such as configuration files, log files, or data interchange formats, face elevated risk of compromise. The vulnerability's presence in a popular text editor application also increases the likelihood of successful exploitation due to the high probability of users opening potentially malicious files. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of broader defensive strategies against memory corruption attacks and should implement proper input validation across all XML processing components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9456 should focus on immediate patching of NotePad++ installations to version 6.7.0 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow condition. System administrators should also implement restrictive file access controls and sandboxing measures for XML file processing, particularly in environments where untrusted files may be encountered. Input validation should be enforced at multiple levels including application boundaries, network interfaces, and file processing components to prevent malformed data from reaching vulnerable parsing functions. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious XML content patterns and monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and the need for comprehensive testing of third-party applications for memory corruption vulnerabilities. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of opening untrusted XML files and implementing least privilege access controls can significantly reduce the potential impact of this vulnerability. Security teams should also monitor for similar vulnerabilities in other text processing applications and ensure that proper code review practices are implemented to prevent similar buffer overflow conditions in future development cycles.