CVE-2016-0795 in LibreOffice
Summary
by MITRE
LibreOffice before 5.0.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted LwpTocSuperLayout record in a LotusWordPro (lwp) document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0795 represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting LibreOffice versions prior to 5.0.5. This vulnerability specifically targets the processing of Lotus Word Pro document formats, which are commonly used for interoperability with older Microsoft Word documents. The issue arises from insufficient input validation when parsing LwpTocSuperLayout records within these documents, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the software through maliciously crafted file content.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling during document parsing operations. When LibreOffice encounters a malformed LwpTocSuperLayout record in a Lotus Word Pro document, the application fails to properly validate the record structure before attempting to process it. This lack of proper bounds checking and memory management leads to memory corruption that can result in application crashes or potentially more severe consequences. The vulnerability operates at the parser level, where the software's document processing engine does not adequately protect against malformed input sequences that could overwrite memory locations or corrupt internal data structures.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on LibreOffice for document processing. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw by delivering malicious Lotus Word Pro documents through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing platforms. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service as the memory corruption could potentially be exploited to execute arbitrary code, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability in environments where users frequently open untrusted documents. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not need physical access to target systems, significantly expanding the attack surface.
The security implications of CVE-2016-0795 align with CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions. These classifications reflect the fundamental memory safety issues present in the vulnerable code. The attack pattern associated with this vulnerability would follow the ATT&CK technique T1203, involving exploitation of software vulnerabilities through document-based attacks. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected LibreOffice installations to prevent potential exploitation. The mitigation strategy should include implementing strict document validation policies, deploying email filtering solutions that scan for potentially malicious document attachments, and maintaining awareness of the vulnerability through security bulletins and threat intelligence feeds. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of opening untrusted documents remains crucial in reducing the attack surface for this particular vulnerability.