CVE-2017-2792 in DMC HTMLFilter
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable heap corruption vulnerability exists in the iBldDirInfo functionality of Antenna House DMC HTMLFilter used by MarkLogic 8.0-6. A specially crafted xls file can cause a heap corruption resulting in arbitrary code execution. An attacker can provide a malicious xls file to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2792 represents a critical heap corruption flaw within the Antenna House DMC HTMLFilter component that is integrated into MarkLogic database version 8.0-6. This security weakness specifically manifests within the iBldDirInfo functionality, which processes directory information structures during the conversion of Microsoft Excel files to HTML format. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management practices when handling specially crafted xls file structures that contain malformed directory entries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves heap memory corruption through improper handling of directory information structures during the conversion process. When the HTMLFilter encounters a malicious xls file with crafted directory entries, the iBldDirInfo function fails to properly validate the size and structure of directory information blocks, leading to buffer overflows and memory corruption within the heap allocation regions. This heap corruption creates opportunities for attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application process, potentially allowing complete system compromise. The flaw operates at the intersection of memory safety issues and code execution vulnerabilities, making it particularly dangerous in database environments where file processing is common.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2792 extends beyond simple code execution capabilities to encompass full system compromise within MarkLogic environments. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to database systems, potentially leading to data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and persistent access. The vulnerability affects organizations using MarkLogic 8.0-6 in production environments where xls file processing is enabled, creating attack vectors through email systems, file upload mechanisms, or document management interfaces that process Microsoft Office formats. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation would enable arbitrary command execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2792 require immediate implementation of multiple security controls to protect MarkLogic environments. Organizations should prioritize applying the vendor-provided patches and updates that address the heap corruption in the Antenna House DMC HTMLFilter component. Network segmentation and file validation controls should be implemented to restrict processing of untrusted xls files, particularly through email gateways and user upload mechanisms. Access controls and privilege separation should be enforced to limit the impact of potential exploitation, ensuring that database processes run with minimal required privileges. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual file processing activities and memory allocation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in document processing libraries and highlights the need for comprehensive input validation and memory safety measures in enterprise database applications.