CVE-2015-0140 in SPSS Statistics
Summary
by MITRE
An unspecified ActiveX control in IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0 through FP1 on 32-bit platforms allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted HTML document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0140 represents a critical security flaw in IBM SPSS Statistics software that affects versions 22.0 through FP1 on 32-bit platforms. This issue stems from an unspecified ActiveX control that fails to properly validate input parameters, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers. The vulnerability specifically targets the ActiveX component architecture which is commonly used in Windows environments to provide interactive web content and functionality. ActiveX controls are inherently trusted by the Windows operating system and browser environments, making them particularly dangerous when compromised as they can execute with elevated privileges and system-level access. The flaw enables attackers to craft malicious HTML documents that, when opened by an affected system, trigger the vulnerable ActiveX control and subsequently execute arbitrary code on the target machine.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of ActiveX control behavior during HTML document processing. When a user opens a specially crafted HTML document containing malicious ActiveX references, the vulnerable control executes code without proper input validation or sanitization. This behavior aligns with CWE-170, which addresses improper input handling in software components, and represents a classic example of a buffer overflow or injection vulnerability that can be exploited through web-based attack vectors. The ActiveX control's failure to properly validate user-supplied data allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that can execute with the privileges of the logged-in user, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0140 is significant for organizations utilizing IBM SPSS Statistics in their analytical workflows, particularly in environments where users may inadvertently open malicious emails or browse compromised websites. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited through social engineering campaigns targeting analysts, researchers, and data scientists who regularly use SPSS for statistical analysis. Attackers can leverage this weakness to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or deploy additional malware within the network. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that SPSS is commonly used in financial services, healthcare, and research institutions where sensitive data processing occurs, making the potential impact of exploitation substantial. Organizations may experience unauthorized data access, system compromise, and potential regulatory violations depending on the nature of the data being processed.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected IBM SPSS Statistics installations, as IBM would have released a security update to address the ActiveX control flaw. System administrators should implement network-level protections including web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to prevent access to malicious content. Browser security configurations should be hardened by disabling ActiveX controls or restricting their execution to trusted domains only. The mitigation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1170, which focuses on exploiting weaknesses in software components, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions. Organizations should also implement user education programs to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that could exploit this vulnerability, as well as establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts through anomalous system behavior or network traffic patterns.