CVE-2017-9432 in libstaroffice
Summary
by MITRE
Document Liberation Project libstaroffice before 2017-04-07 has an out-of-bounds write caused by a stack-based buffer overflow related to the DatabaseName::read function in lib/StarWriterStruct.cxx.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2022
The Document Liberation Project libstaroffice library contains a critical stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability that affects versions prior to the 2017-04-07 release. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the DatabaseName::read function located in the lib/StarWriterStruct.cxx source file. The flaw represents a classic out-of-bounds write condition that occurs when the application attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory bounds of a stack-allocated buffer. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited to execute arbitrary code or cause application crashes, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to compromise systems that utilize this library.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the DatabaseName::read function failing to properly validate the length of input data before copying it into a fixed-size stack buffer. When maliciously crafted input exceeds the buffer boundaries, the overflow can overwrite adjacent stack memory locations including return addresses and local variables. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is categorized under the broader weakness class of buffer overflows that occur in stack memory regions. The attack surface is particularly concerning because libstaroffice is used for processing office document formats, making it a potential vector for exploitation through malicious document attachments in email systems or web applications.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations that rely on document processing systems or applications that utilize the libstaroffice library for office document handling. The out-of-bounds write condition can result in denial of service attacks where applications crash or become unresponsive, or more critically, allow remote code execution if attackers can control the overflowed memory locations. The vulnerability's exploitation potential aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, as it can be leveraged to execute malicious code on vulnerable systems. Organizations using older versions of this library are particularly at risk when processing untrusted office documents, as the attack can be initiated through simple document manipulation without requiring complex social engineering.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate remediation through version updates to libstaroffice 2017-04-07 or later releases that contain the necessary buffer overflow protections. System administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all systems utilizing affected versions of the library and prioritize patch deployment across the enterprise environment. Additionally, implementing defensive programming practices such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and input validation controls can provide additional layers of protection. Network segmentation and application whitelisting policies should be enforced to limit the attack surface, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual document processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for document processing to contain potential exploitation attempts within isolated environments, thereby reducing the overall impact of successful attacks.