CVE-2017-2794 in MarkLogic
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the DHFSummary functionality of AntennaHouse DMC HTMLFilter as used by MarkLogic 8.0-6. A specially crafted PPT file can cause a stack corruption resulting in arbitrary code execution. An attacker can send/provide malicious PPT file to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2794 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within the DHFSummary functionality of AntennaHouse DMC HTMLFilter component when integrated with MarkLogic 8.0-6 software. This flaw resides in the processing logic that handles PowerPoint presentation files, specifically when the system attempts to generate summary information from these documents. The buffer overflow occurs during the parsing and extraction of metadata from PPT files, where insufficient bounds checking allows malicious input to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack. The vulnerability manifests when the application processes specially crafted PPT files that contain oversized or malformed data structures within their summary information sections, creating a condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite return addresses and execution pointers stored in the stack memory.
This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which classifies it as a stack-based buffer overflow due to inadequate input validation and memory boundary checking. The attack vector requires an unauthenticated user to provide a malicious PPT file to the vulnerable system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users can upload or process external documents. The exploitation process leverages the stack corruption to redirect program execution flow, potentially allowing remote code execution with the privileges of the affected application process. The nature of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves the use of malicious files to achieve code execution, and T1059, which covers the execution of commands through application vulnerabilities. The affected MarkLogic 8.0-6 environment processes these PPT files through the AntennaHouse DMC HTMLFilter component, which serves as an intermediary for document conversion and summary generation, making it a critical pathway for exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can lead to complete system compromise when successful. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains the ability to execute arbitrary code on the target system, potentially escalating privileges to gain full administrative control over the MarkLogic database server. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on MarkLogic for document management and processing, particularly those that accept or process PowerPoint presentations from external sources without proper sanitization. The exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond providing the malicious file, making it an attractive target for automated attacks or social engineering campaigns. Organizations using this vulnerable software configuration face significant risk of data breaches, system infiltration, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability's presence in a database management system processing document metadata creates additional risk as attackers could potentially access or manipulate sensitive data stored within the MarkLogic environment, especially if the system processes confidential or proprietary documents from multiple sources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2794 should prioritize immediate software updates and patches from the vendor, as the vulnerability affects a specific version of MarkLogic that has been addressed through subsequent releases. Organizations should implement strict file validation and sanitization policies that prevent processing of PowerPoint files from untrusted sources or apply additional layers of security such as sandboxed processing environments for document analysis. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of vulnerable systems to potential attackers, while regular security assessments should monitor for similar vulnerabilities in other document processing components. The implementation of automated threat detection systems that can identify and block suspicious file patterns or behaviors associated with this vulnerability type provides additional defense-in-depth. Security teams should also consider disabling unnecessary document processing features and implementing comprehensive monitoring of system calls and memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to track related vulnerabilities and ensure their security measures remain effective against evolving attack techniques targeting similar buffer overflow conditions in document processing applications.