CVE-2018-10119 in LibreOffice
Summary
by MITRE
sot/source/sdstor/stgstrms.cxx in LibreOffice before 5.4.5.1 and 6.x before 6.0.1.1 uses an incorrect integer data type in the StgSmallStrm class, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (use-after-free with write access) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10119 resides within the sot/source/sdstor/stgstrms.cxx component of LibreOffice, affecting versions prior to 5.4.5.1 and 6.x prior to 6.0.1.1. This flaw manifests in the StgSmallStrm class where an incorrect integer data type is employed, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute malicious code. The issue stems from improper handling of integer variables that leads to memory management errors, specifically manifesting as use-after-free conditions where freed memory regions are accessed for writing operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted malicious documents that trigger the flawed integer handling within the storage stream processing mechanism. When LibreOffice processes such documents, the incorrect data type usage causes the application to improperly manage memory allocation and deallocation cycles, resulting in memory corruption. This memory corruption enables attackers to either cause a denial of service by triggering application crashes or potentially achieve more severe impacts including arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability operates at the core storage layer of LibreOffice's document processing pipeline, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered simply by opening a malicious file.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on LibreOffice for document processing, as it requires no special privileges or user interaction beyond opening a crafted document. The use-after-free condition creates a stable attack surface that can be leveraged by threat actors to compromise systems, especially in environments where users frequently open documents from untrusted sources. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially allow full system compromise, making this a critical vulnerability requiring immediate attention. Organizations using older versions of LibreOffice are particularly vulnerable as the flaw exists in multiple release lines, necessitating comprehensive patch management strategies.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which addresses null pointer dereference conditions, though it specifically manifests as a use-after-free scenario through improper integer handling. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability could map to multiple ATT&CK techniques including initial access through malicious document delivery and execution through code injection or privilege escalation. The remediation strategy focuses on updating to patched versions of LibreOffice where the integer data type has been corrected and proper memory management has been implemented. Additionally, organizations should implement document sanitization measures and user education to minimize exposure risk. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and consider network-based detection mechanisms to identify potential attack traffic targeting this specific vulnerability in unpatched systems.