CVE-2016-4403 in KeyView
Summary
by MITRE
A security vulnerability was identified in the Filter SDK component of HP KeyView earlier than v11.2. The vulnerability could be exploited remotely to allow code execution via memory corruption.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4403 affects the Filter SDK component of HP KeyView software versions prior to v11.2, representing a critical memory corruption flaw that enables remote code execution. This vulnerability resides within the software's document processing capabilities, specifically within the handling of malformed or specially crafted input files that are processed through the KeyView Filter SDK. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly validate input data during the parsing of various document formats, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory structures through carefully constructed malicious payloads. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that adversaries can trigger the memory corruption without requiring local access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where KeyView components might be exposed to untrusted input from external sources.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds writes in heap-based buffers. These classifications indicate that the flaw allows attackers to write data beyond the boundaries of allocated memory regions, potentially corrupting adjacent memory locations and enabling arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the Filter SDK's parsing routines, where the software does not adequately check the length or structure of incoming data before processing it. When malformed input reaches the vulnerable parsing functions, the application's memory management becomes compromised, allowing attackers to manipulate program execution flow through controlled memory corruption techniques. This type of vulnerability is particularly insidious because it can be triggered through normal document processing operations, making it difficult to distinguish between legitimate and malicious input without proper validation mechanisms in place.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-4403 extends beyond simple code execution capabilities, as it can facilitate broader compromise of affected systems and potentially enable lateral movement within networks where KeyView components are deployed. Organizations using HP KeyView in document processing workflows, particularly those handling untrusted documents from external sources, face significant risk from this vulnerability. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can target systems without physical access, potentially compromising servers, workstations, or network devices that utilize KeyView for document handling. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) when exploited for initial access or privilege escalation. The vulnerability's presence in Filter SDK components suggests that it could affect various applications that depend on KeyView for document processing, including email servers, content management systems, and document repositories that may process untrusted documents from multiple sources.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through updating to HP KeyView v11.2 or later versions that contain the necessary patches to address the memory corruption flaw. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts, while monitoring for unusual document processing activities may help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of input validation and memory safety practices in document processing software, particularly in enterprise environments where such components may be exposed to untrusted data from multiple sources. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems utilizing affected KeyView components and ensure that appropriate mitigations are implemented across the enterprise infrastructure.