CVE-2017-2806 in Perspective Document Filter
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable arbitrary read exists in the XLS parsing of the Lexmark Perspective Document Filters conversion functionality. A crafted XLS document can lead to a arbitrary read resulting in memory disclosure. The vulnerability was confirmed on versions 11.3.0.2228 and 11.3.0.2400
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2806 represents a critical security flaw within the Lexmark Perspective Document Filters conversion functionality, specifically affecting XLS file parsing operations. This arbitrary read vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the document conversion pipeline, creating a pathway for malicious actors to extract sensitive information from the system's memory. The flaw manifests when processing specially crafted XLS documents that exploit memory access patterns beyond intended boundaries, allowing unauthorized data disclosure from system memory regions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the XLS parsing component of the Lexmark Perspective Document Filters, where the software fails to properly validate the structure and content of incoming spreadsheet files. This weakness creates a condition where the parsing engine can be tricked into reading memory locations that should remain protected or inaccessible, resulting in memory disclosure of potentially sensitive data including system pointers, configuration information, or other confidential memory contents. The vulnerability operates at the application level within the document conversion stack, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through document processing workflows that are commonly encountered in enterprise environments. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and represents a classic example of memory safety issues in document processing software.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the arbitrary read capability could potentially enable attackers to gather intelligence about the target system's memory layout, which could then be leveraged to facilitate more sophisticated attacks. In enterprise environments where Lexmark printers and document management systems are deployed, this vulnerability could allow unauthorized access to sensitive information contained within memory segments, potentially exposing system configurations, user data, or other confidential information. The affected versions 11.3.0.2228 and 11.3.0.2400 represent specific software releases where this memory access flaw was present, making organizations using these versions particularly vulnerable to exploitation.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by Lexmark to address the memory access validation issues within the XLS parsing functionality. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of affected systems, while monitoring for suspicious document processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation approach should include thorough testing of updated software versions to ensure that the memory access controls have been properly implemented and that no regression issues have been introduced. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in document processing systems and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation may involve crafting malicious documents that trigger the memory disclosure behavior. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as document filtering and sandboxing mechanisms to reduce the attack surface and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive system resources through document processing vulnerabilities.