CVE-2016-7845 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
GigaCC OFFICE ver.2.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to upload arbitrary files as a user profile image, which may be exploited for unauthorized file sharing.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7845 affects GigaCC OFFICE version 2.3 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in the application's file handling mechanisms. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization processes within the user profile image upload functionality, creating an exploitable pathway for remote attackers to bypass intended security controls. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's user profile management system where image files are accepted for display purposes, but the validation checks are insufficient to prevent malicious file uploads. Attackers can leverage this weakness to upload arbitrary files with potentially harmful content, fundamentally compromising the integrity of the user profile system and the broader application environment.
The technical flaw manifests through a lack of proper file type verification and content inspection mechanisms within the application's upload processing pipeline. When users attempt to upload profile images, the system fails to adequately validate file extensions, MIME types, or actual file content, allowing attackers to submit files with extensions that may be interpreted as executable or malicious. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-434, which addresses insecure file upload vulnerabilities where applications accept files without proper validation, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1195.001 for the use of malicious file uploads to establish persistence or gain unauthorized access. The absence of robust file validation creates a pathway for attackers to upload web shells, script files, or other malicious content that could be executed within the application's context, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file sharing, as it creates a persistent threat vector that attackers can exploit repeatedly. Once an attacker successfully uploads a malicious file, they can leverage it for various malicious activities including data exfiltration, privilege escalation, or establishing backdoors within the application environment. The vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate user profiles in ways that could be used for social engineering attacks or to spread malicious content to other users within the system. Organizations using affected versions of GigaCC OFFICE face significant risks including unauthorized access to user data, potential data breaches, and compromised application integrity. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers do not require physical access or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from anywhere on the internet.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7845 should prioritize immediate application updates to versions that address the file upload validation issues. Organizations must implement comprehensive file validation mechanisms including strict extension filtering, MIME type checking, and content inspection to prevent malicious file uploads. The application should enforce proper file type restrictions and reject any uploads that do not meet predefined security criteria. Network-level protections should include implementing web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious file upload attempts, while also establishing regular security audits to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing principle of least privilege controls for user profile management functions and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized file uploads. The remediation process must also include user education regarding the risks of uploading unknown files and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application ecosystem. Organizations should also consider implementing file integrity monitoring solutions to detect and alert on unauthorized file modifications within the application's file system.