CVE-2017-14286 in STDU Viewer
Summary
by MITRE
STDU Viewer 1.6.375 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service via a crafted .jb2 file, related to a "User Mode Write AV starting at STDUJBIG2File!DllUnregisterServer+0x000000000000cb8c."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14286 affects STDU Viewer version 1.6.375, a document viewing application that processes various file formats including the Joint Bi-level Image Group 2 format commonly known as .jb2 files. This particular flaw represents a critical security weakness that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized system access or disrupt service availability. The vulnerability manifests through improper input validation and memory handling when processing specially crafted .jb2 files, creating a dangerous attack surface for remote code execution or denial of service conditions.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in a user mode write access violation that occurs within the STDUJBIG2File.dll component during the DllUnregisterServer function execution. This specific memory access violation at offset 0x000000000000cb8c indicates that the application fails to properly validate or sanitize input data from the malicious .jb2 file before processing it in memory. The flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite critical memory structures, potentially allowing for arbitrary code execution in the context of the running application. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation as it affects the fundamental security posture of systems running affected versions of STDU Viewer. When exploited, the vulnerability could enable attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The denial of service aspect means that even unsuccessful exploitation attempts could render the application unusable, causing legitimate users to lose access to document viewing functionality. This vulnerability particularly concerns organizations that rely on STDU Viewer for document processing, as it could be leveraged in targeted attacks against specific user groups or systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14286 should focus on immediate remediation through vendor-supplied patches or updates that address the underlying memory handling issues in the STDUJBIG2File.dll component. System administrators should implement network segmentation and application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized execution of potentially malicious .jb2 files. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, and T1203, which describes legitimate user execution of malicious code. Organizations should also consider implementing file extension filtering and content validation mechanisms to prevent processing of untrusted .jb2 files. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other document processing applications within the organization's attack surface.