CVE-2017-2799 in MarkLogic
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable heap corruption vulnerability exists in the AddSst 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 or provide a malicious XLS file to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2799 represents a critical heap corruption flaw within the Antenna House DMC HTMLFilter component when integrated with MarkLogic 8.0-6 database system. This vulnerability specifically manifests within the AddSst functionality, which processes spreadsheet data during document conversion operations. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and memory management when handling maliciously crafted XLS files, creating a pathway for remote code execution through heap-based buffer overflow conditions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the affected system processes an XLS file containing malformed data structures that trigger improper memory allocation and manipulation within the AddSst function. The heap corruption results from insufficient bounds checking and memory boundary validation during the parsing of spreadsheet elements, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious payloads. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction since it can be triggered through automated file processing, making it particularly dangerous in server environments where document conversion services are exposed.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2799 extends beyond simple code execution capabilities to encompass complete system compromise and data exfiltration. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the affected service account, potentially leading to full system takeover. The vulnerability affects organizations using MarkLogic 8.0-6 with Antenna House DMC HTMLFilter integration, particularly those processing untrusted spreadsheet data through automated document conversion workflows. This creates risk scenarios where automated document processing systems become attack vectors for lateral movement and persistent access within network environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the affected MarkLogic version to address the heap corruption in the DMC HTMLFilter component. Organizations should implement strict input validation and sanitization for all spreadsheet files processed through the system, including mandatory file format verification and content scanning. Network segmentation and access controls should limit exposure of document conversion services to trusted sources only. The implementation of application whitelisting and sandboxing mechanisms can further reduce the attack surface. Additionally, monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous file processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar heap-based vulnerabilities in other components of the system architecture, as this flaw demonstrates the critical importance of memory safety in document processing applications.