CVE-2016-8382 in DMC HTMLFilter
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable heap corruption vulnerability exists in the Doc_SetSummary functionality of AntennaHouse DMC HTMLFilter. A specially crafted doc file can cause a heap corruption resulting in arbitrary code execution. An attacker can send a malicious doc file to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8382 represents a critical heap corruption flaw within the AntennaHouse DMC HTMLFilter component, specifically affecting the Doc_SetSummary functionality. This vulnerability resides in a document processing library that converts microsoft word documents into html format, making it particularly dangerous in environments where document conversion is frequently performed. The flaw manifests when the system processes specially crafted malicious .doc files that contain malformed data structures designed to exploit memory management weaknesses in the target application. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-122 as "Heap-based Buffer Overflow" which directly relates to improper memory allocation and handling during document processing operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully constructed document file that triggers improper heap memory management when the Doc_SetSummary function attempts to process the malicious input. During normal operation, the system allocates heap memory to store document summary information, but the malformed input causes the application to write beyond allocated memory boundaries or corrupt heap metadata structures. This heap corruption creates conditions where an attacker can manipulate memory layout to achieve arbitrary code execution, effectively allowing remote code execution within the context of the vulnerable application. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no user interaction beyond opening or processing the malicious document, making it a prime candidate for drive-by download attacks or social engineering campaigns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise when the target application runs with elevated privileges. Organizations utilizing AntennaHouse DMC HTMLFilter for document conversion services, particularly in web applications or automated processing environments, face significant risk exposure. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack scenarios including email attachments, web uploads, or file processing workflows where document conversion is automated. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as successful exploitation can lead to privilege escalation if the vulnerable application runs with administrative rights. The attack surface is broad as any system processing .doc files through this component is potentially vulnerable.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-8382 should include immediate patching of the AntennaHouse DMC HTMLFilter component to the latest version that addresses the heap corruption issue. Organizations should implement strict document validation and sanitization policies, particularly for untrusted document inputs, and consider deploying sandboxed environments for document processing operations. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can help detect and block malicious document uploads. Additionally, privilege separation should be enforced where the document processing application runs with minimal necessary permissions to limit potential damage from successful exploitation. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify other potential vulnerabilities in document processing pipelines, and incident response procedures should be established to handle potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper memory management practices and input validation in document processing libraries, particularly those handling untrusted content from external sources.