CVE-2017-14554 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 .djvu file, related to a "Possible Stack Corruption starting at STDUDjVuFile!DllUnregisterServer+0x000000000000d908."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14554 affects STDU Viewer version 1.6.375, a document viewing application that processes djvu files. This issue represents a critical stack corruption vulnerability that can be exploited through maliciously crafted djvu files, potentially leading to denial of service conditions or unspecified security impacts. The vulnerability manifests within the STDUDjVuFile.dll component during the DllUnregisterServer function execution, specifically at offset 0x000000000000d908, indicating a stack-based buffer overflow or memory corruption scenario.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the djvu file processing pipeline. When the application attempts to register or unregister the djvu file handler component, the malformed input triggers a stack corruption condition that can result in application crashes, system instability, or potentially arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow category, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite stack memory regions. The specific location at DllUnregisterServer suggests that the vulnerability occurs during the dynamic link library cleanup phase, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect the application's ability to properly manage its resources and handle file operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it represents a potential entry point for more sophisticated attacks. An attacker who can successfully exploit this vulnerability may gain the ability to execute arbitrary code within the context of the STDU Viewer application, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The unspecified nature of the other potential impacts indicates that this vulnerability could enable privilege escalation, information disclosure, or other security breaches depending on the execution environment and system configuration. This vulnerability particularly affects users who frequently process djvu files or those who may encounter malicious documents in legitimate business contexts, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on document viewing applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the STDU Viewer application to the latest version that addresses the stack corruption issue. System administrators should implement restrictive file handling policies that prevent automatic processing of unknown or untrusted djvu files, particularly in enterprise environments. The implementation of application whitelisting controls can help prevent exploitation by ensuring only known good versions of the application execute. Additionally, network-based security controls such as intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious file processing activities related to djvu files. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for document viewing operations and establishing incident response procedures to handle potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage, as exploitation may involve executing malicious payloads through the compromised application, and T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation, as successful exploitation could lead to elevated system access.