CVE-2016-7844 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
GigaCC OFFICE ver.2.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands via specially crafted mail template.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7844 affects GigaCC OFFICE version 2.3 and earlier, representing a critical remote code execution flaw that enables attackers to execute arbitrary operating system commands through manipulated email templates. This vulnerability resides in the email template processing functionality of the software, which fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before processing. The flaw allows an attacker to craft malicious email templates that, when processed by the vulnerable system, trigger arbitrary command execution on the underlying operating system. This represents a severe security weakness that can be exploited remotely without authentication, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where email systems serve as primary communication channels.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the email template parsing mechanism. When the system processes specially crafted email templates containing malicious code, the application fails to properly escape or filter dangerous characters and command sequences that could be interpreted as executable instructions. This weakness creates a command injection vulnerability that aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 classifications, as it allows attackers to inject and execute arbitrary commands through improperly validated input. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through email-based attack vectors, making it particularly challenging to detect and prevent through traditional network security measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7844 extends beyond simple command execution, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within network environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install backdoors, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malware payloads, effectively transforming the compromised system into a command and control node. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can target vulnerable systems from anywhere on the internet, while the lack of authentication requirements makes the attack surface particularly broad. Organizations using affected versions of GigaCC OFFICE face significant risk of unauthorized access to sensitive business data, potential regulatory compliance violations, and substantial financial losses from potential data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7844 require immediate action to address the vulnerability through software updates and configuration hardening. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to a patched version of GigaCC OFFICE that addresses the command injection flaw in email template processing. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and email filtering measures to reduce the attack surface, including implementing strict email content filtering policies that prevent the processing of suspicious email templates. Additionally, security controls should be enhanced through the implementation of web application firewalls and runtime application self-protection mechanisms that can detect and block malicious command injection attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communication and privilege escalation, requiring comprehensive monitoring and detection capabilities to identify potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments to identify any potential post-exploitation activities and implement robust incident response procedures to address successful exploitation attempts.