CVE-2017-14308 in STDU Viewer
Summary
by MITRE
STDU Viewer 1.6.375 allows attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted .jb2 file, related to a "Read Access Violation starting at STDUJBIG2File!DllUnregisterServer+0x0000000000006ddd."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14308 affects STDU Viewer version 1.6.375, a document viewing application that processes various file formats including the JBIG2 standard. This particular flaw manifests as a read access violation within the STDUJBIG2File.dll dynamic link library when processing maliciously crafted .jb2 files. The vulnerability occurs at the DllUnregisterServer function offset 0x0000000000006ddd, indicating a critical memory access issue during the DLL registration cleanup process. The JBIG2 format is a standard for lossy and lossless compression of raster data, commonly used for document imaging and archiving applications, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on document management systems. The vulnerability represents a classic buffer overflow condition where improper input validation leads to memory corruption during file parsing operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages a crafted .jb2 file that triggers a memory access violation when STDU Viewer attempts to process the file structure. The Read Access Violation indicates that the application attempts to read from a memory location that it does not have permission to access, typically occurring when the program dereferences a null or invalid pointer. This specific location within the STDUJBIG2File!DllUnregisterServer function suggests that the vulnerability may be triggered during the application's shutdown sequence or when handling file registration operations. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, which occurs when a program reads data past the end of a valid buffer, and CWE-119: Improper Restriction of Operations within a Limited Access Scope, indicating insufficient bounds checking during memory operations. The attack vector requires local or remote user interaction through file delivery, making it particularly dangerous in email attachment scenarios or document sharing environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as the unspecified other impacts could include arbitrary code execution, privilege escalation, or information disclosure. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, the application may crash or become unresponsive, causing denial of service to legitimate users. However, the potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that the memory corruption could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks, potentially allowing attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application. This vulnerability affects the core functionality of document viewing operations and could be particularly damaging in enterprise environments where document processing is critical for business operations. The vulnerability's impact is compounded by the fact that many organizations use document viewers for processing sensitive business documents, making the potential for information leakage or system compromise more severe.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14308 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected STDU Viewer application to version 1.6.375.1 or later, as provided by the vendor to address the memory access violation. Organizations should implement file type restrictions and sandboxing measures to prevent automatic execution of potentially malicious .jb2 files, particularly in email systems and document sharing platforms. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can help limit the potential impact of exploitation by restricting access to vulnerable systems. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual file processing patterns or application crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution, which involves using vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on client systems. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, where memory corruption vulnerabilities can be leveraged to gain elevated privileges. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar issues in other document processing applications and ensure comprehensive protection against similar attack vectors.