CVE-2015-5416 in KeyView
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in HP KeyView before 10.23.0.1 and 10.24.x before 10.24.0.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors, aka ZDI-CAN-2875.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5416 represents a critical security flaw within HP KeyView software versions prior to specific patch releases. This unspecified vulnerability falls under the category of remote code execution, which constitutes one of the most severe threat vectors in cybersecurity. The issue was disclosed with the reference number ZDI-CAN-2875, indicating it was identified by the Zero Day Initiative, a prominent security research organization that tracks and reports on previously unknown vulnerabilities. HP KeyView is a document viewing and processing application that handles various file formats including Microsoft Office documents, PDFs, and other proprietary formats, making it a widely used component in enterprise environments where document processing is critical. The vulnerability affects both the 10.23.x series before version 10.23.0.1 and the 10.24.x series before version 10.24.0.1, suggesting a widespread impact across multiple release branches of the software.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves unknown attack vectors that allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on systems running affected versions of HP KeyView. While the specific technical details remain undisclosed, this classification indicates that attackers can potentially exploit the software through network-based attacks without requiring local system access or user interaction. The unspecified nature of the vectors suggests that the vulnerability may stem from memory corruption issues, buffer overflows, or other low-level programming errors that can be triggered through malformed input processing. This type of vulnerability typically arises from insufficient input validation or improper handling of file formats that KeyView processes, particularly when dealing with documents that contain maliciously crafted elements designed to trigger the exploitable condition. The vulnerability's classification as remote code execution places it within the scope of CWE-119, which addresses weakness in memory management and improper handling of memory access violations. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially gain complete control over affected systems, allowing them to install malware, create backdoors, or exfiltrate sensitive data.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5416 extends significantly beyond individual system compromise, particularly in enterprise environments where HP KeyView is extensively deployed. Organizations using affected versions face substantial risk of unauthorized access to their document processing infrastructure, which could serve as a foothold for broader network infiltration. The vulnerability's remote execution capability means that attackers do not need physical access to target systems or user credentials to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in environments where document processing systems are accessible over networks. This threat vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for execution, and T1059, which addresses command and scripting interpreter. The potential for widespread compromise increases when considering that many organizations use HP KeyView as part of their document management workflows, making it a valuable target for attackers seeking persistent access to enterprise networks. Additionally, the vulnerability's presence in multiple release branches suggests that organizations may have deployed affected versions across different departments or systems, potentially creating a larger attack surface than initially apparent.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability by upgrading to HP KeyView versions 10.23.0.1 or 10.24.0.1, which contain the necessary patches to address the unspecified flaw. System administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all instances of affected software across their networks, particularly focusing on systems that process external documents or are accessible over network boundaries. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of KeyView installations to untrusted networks, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, including unusual network connections or unexpected process executions. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw necessitates a comprehensive incident response plan that includes system isolation procedures, forensic analysis capabilities, and communication protocols for potential breach notifications. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of potentially vulnerable software, and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to monitor for related exploitation attempts or variant attacks targeting similar vulnerabilities in document processing software. Given the nature of this vulnerability, continuous vulnerability assessment programs should be established to proactively identify and remediate similar issues in other enterprise software components.