CVE-2016-1513 in OpenOffice
Summary
by MITRE
The Impress tool in Apache OpenOffice 4.1.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read or write) or execute arbitrary code via crafted MetaActions in an (1) ODP or (2) OTP file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1513 represents a critical security flaw within the Impress presentation tool of Apache OpenOffice versions 4.1.2 and earlier. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory handling mechanisms when processing crafted MetaActions within OpenDocument Presentation (ODP) and OpenDocument Template (OTP) files. The flaw exists in the software's ability to parse and interpret structured presentation data, specifically targeting the way it handles MetaAction sequences that define animation and interaction behaviors within presentations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves out-of-bounds read and write operations that occur when the Impress tool processes malformed MetaAction data structures within presentation files. Attackers can craft malicious ODP or OTP files containing specially constructed MetaAction sequences that trigger memory corruption during the presentation rendering process. These crafted sequences exploit weaknesses in the software's memory management and buffer handling, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues and can be classified as a buffer overflow or memory corruption vulnerability, with direct implications for software reliability and system security.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1513 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass potential remote code execution capabilities that could allow attackers to compromise systems running vulnerable versions of Apache OpenOffice. When a user opens a maliciously crafted presentation file, the vulnerable software may attempt to execute code outside of its intended memory boundaries, potentially allowing threat actors to inject malicious payloads or establish persistent access to affected systems. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where users frequently open presentation files from untrusted sources, making it a significant concern for organizations with robust security protocols. The exploitability of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes exploitation of software vulnerabilities for code execution.
Organizations and users should immediately update to Apache OpenOffice versions that have addressed this vulnerability, as the affected versions lack proper input sanitization and memory boundary checking for MetaAction processing. The recommended mitigation strategy includes implementing strict file validation policies, deploying sandboxing mechanisms for presentation file handling, and ensuring that users only open presentation files from trusted sources. Security administrators should also consider network-level controls to prevent the automatic opening of potentially malicious presentation files and implement regular security assessments to identify systems running vulnerable software versions. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against similar memory corruption issues that may affect other office productivity suites and document processing applications. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-125 indicates it involves out-of-bounds read operations, while its potential for remote code execution aligns with broader exploitation patterns found in similar office suite vulnerabilities.