CVE-2017-14574 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 .xps file, related to a "User Mode Write AV starting at Unknown Symbol @ 0x0000000004940490."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14574 affects STDU Viewer version 1.6.375, a document viewer application designed for reading various file formats including xps documents. This security flaw represents a critical memory corruption issue that can be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized system access or disrupt normal operations. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes specially crafted .xps files, which are XML Paper Specification documents used for document sharing and printing. The attack vector leverages a user mode write access violation that occurs at a specific memory address, indicating a serious flaw in the application's memory management and input validation mechanisms.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory operations during the parsing of maliciously constructed xps files. The error message references a "User Mode Write AV starting at Unknown Symbol @ 0x0000000004940490" which indicates that the application attempts to write to a memory location that either does not exist or is not accessible to the current process. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of heap-based buffer overflows or memory corruption issues, commonly classified as CWE-121 Heap-based Buffer Overflow or CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write. The specific memory address suggests that the application's parsing logic fails to properly validate input boundaries, leading to unauthorized memory access patterns that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code or trigger denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution capabilities, as it can result in complete system compromise or service disruption. When exploited successfully, attackers can leverage this flaw to gain elevated privileges within the victim's system, potentially leading to data theft, system takeover, or deployment of additional malware. The denial of service component means that legitimate users may be unable to access the application or view documents, causing productivity losses and operational disruptions. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where users frequently open documents from untrusted sources or where the application is used in automated document processing workflows, making it a significant concern for enterprise security teams.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14574 should include immediate application updates from the vendor, as this vulnerability has been addressed in subsequent releases. Organizations should implement strict document validation policies that prevent automatic opening of potentially malicious files, particularly those from external sources. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can help limit the potential impact by restricting which systems can access the vulnerable application. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual memory access patterns or application crashes that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage application flaws to execute malicious code on target systems. Additionally, implementing sandboxing mechanisms for document processing and regular security assessments of document viewer applications can provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities in the future.