CVE-2017-14300 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 "Data from Faulting Address controls subsequent Write Address starting at STDUJBIG2File!DllGetClassObject+0x0000000000004479."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14300 affects STDU Viewer version 1.6.375, a document viewing application that processes various file formats including jb2 files. This particular flaw represents a critical security weakness that can be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution or cause denial of service conditions. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of malformed jb2 files within the application's processing pipeline, specifically within the STDUJBIG2File component that manages JBIG2 image format decoding.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in how the application processes memory addresses during the decoding process of JBIG2 files. The faulting address mentioned in the vulnerability description controls subsequent write operations at a specific offset within the DllGetClassObject function, indicating a classic buffer overflow or memory corruption scenario. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of Stack-based Buffer Overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite memory locations that control program execution flow. The precise offset 0x0000000000004479 within the STDUJBIG2File!DllGetClassObject function suggests that the vulnerability occurs during the dynamic link library class object initialization process when processing malformed input files.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on STDU Viewer for document processing. Attackers can craft malicious jb2 files that, when opened by the vulnerable application, trigger memory corruption leading to arbitrary code execution within the context of the user running the viewer. This could enable attackers to install malware, steal sensitive information, or escalate privileges depending on the user's access level. The vulnerability also allows for denial of service conditions where legitimate users cannot process valid documents, potentially disrupting business operations. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no special privileges to exploit and can be delivered through social engineering tactics, making it highly accessible to threat actors across different skill levels.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected application to the latest version that addresses the memory handling flaws in the JBIG2 file processing component. Organizations should implement application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted document files and deploy network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening untrusted document files and encouraged to verify file sources before processing. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in document processing applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution. System administrators should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for document processing and regularly audit application configurations to ensure that vulnerable components are not unnecessarily exposed to untrusted input sources.