CVE-2017-2793 in MarkLogic
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable heap corruption vulnerability exists in the UnCompressUnicode 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 send/provide malicious XLS file to trigger this vulnerability.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2793 represents a critical heap corruption flaw within the Antenna House DMC HTMLFilter component, which is integrated into MarkLogic database software version 8.0-6. This security weakness specifically manifests within the UnCompressUnicode functionality, where the software fails to properly validate input data when processing Microsoft Excel files. The flaw arises from insufficient bounds checking and memory management during the decompression process of Unicode character sequences within XLS spreadsheet formats, creating a condition where maliciously crafted input can overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the affected MarkLogic system processes a specially crafted XLS file that contains malformed Unicode data structures. During the UnCompressUnicode operation, the software's memory allocation routines fail to properly verify the size and structure of incoming data, allowing attackers to manipulate heap memory layout through carefully constructed input sequences. This heap corruption enables arbitrary code execution, as the attacker can overwrite critical function pointers or return addresses within the program's memory space, effectively gaining control over the execution flow of the vulnerable application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it allows attackers to potentially escalate privileges and establish persistent access to systems running vulnerable MarkLogic installations. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication or specialized privileges from the attacker, who can simply provide a malicious XLS file through standard file upload mechanisms or email attachments. This makes the vulnerability highly exploitable in environments where MarkLogic systems process untrusted document uploads or where users might inadvertently open malicious files. The vulnerability affects organizations using MarkLogic 8.0-6 and potentially other versions that incorporate the vulnerable Antenna House DMC HTMLFilter component, creating widespread exposure across enterprise document management and content processing systems.
Security mitigations for CVE-2017-2793 should prioritize immediate patching of affected MarkLogic installations to version 8.0-7 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the heap corruption issue. Organizations should also implement strict file validation policies that prevent processing of XLS files or implement additional sandboxing measures around document processing components. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit exposure of vulnerable systems, while monitoring should be implemented to detect suspicious file upload activities. The vulnerability 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 attackers to execute arbitrary code within the target system's context. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting controls and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar memory corruption vulnerabilities in their document processing pipelines.