CVE-2017-2795 in DMC HTMLFilter
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable heap corruption vulnerability exists in the Txo functionality of Antenna House DMC HTMLFilter as 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2795 represents a critical heap corruption flaw within the Txo functionality of Antenna House DMC HTMLFilter component when integrated with MarkLogic 8.0-6. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the processing pipeline for Microsoft Excel files, creating a pathway for remote code execution through malicious file manipulation. The vulnerability specifically affects systems where MarkLogic 8.0-6 is configured to process or convert xls documents using the Antenna House DMC HTMLFilter engine, making it particularly dangerous in document management and content processing environments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious xls file is processed by the affected system, triggering a heap buffer overflow condition during the Txo functionality execution. This heap corruption allows attackers to overwrite critical memory locations and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected service. The flaw manifests as improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation during xls file parsing, where the system fails to properly validate array bounds and memory boundaries when processing specific xls structures. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121 Heap-based Buffer Overflow, which is a well-documented weakness in memory management that enables attackers to manipulate heap memory and gain unauthorized control over system operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using MarkLogic 8.0-6 for document processing and content management. The attack vector requires only the delivery of a malicious xls file to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users can upload or process external documents. The potential impact includes complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistence mechanisms that could allow attackers to maintain long-term access. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the compromised system. The vulnerability affects systems where MarkLogic is configured to automatically convert or process xls documents, creating a wide attack surface in enterprise environments that rely on document conversion services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the MarkLogic software to the latest available version that addresses the heap corruption issue. Organizations should implement strict file validation and sanitization procedures for all incoming xls files, particularly in user-facing systems or environments where external document processing occurs. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of systems running vulnerable versions of MarkLogic. Additionally, implementing monitoring and detection mechanisms to identify suspicious file processing activities can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider disabling unnecessary document conversion features and establishing automated scanning procedures for xls files before processing. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management practices and input validation in preventing heap-based buffer overflows, aligning with industry best practices for secure coding standards and defensive programming techniques.