CVE-2018-4040 in Word Processor
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable uninitialized pointer vulnerability exists in the rich text format parser of Atlantis Word Processor, version 3.2.7.2. A specially crafted document can cause certain RTF tokens to dereference a pointer that has been uninitialized and then write to it. An attacker must convince a victim to open a specially crafted document in order to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-4040 represents a critical memory safety issue within the rich text format parser of Atlantis Word Processor version 3.2.7.2. This flaw manifests as an uninitialized pointer dereference that occurs during the parsing of RTF documents, creating a potential exploitation vector for remote attackers. The vulnerability specifically affects how the application handles certain RTF tokens, where the parser fails to properly initialize memory pointers before attempting to write data to them. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption flaws that can lead to arbitrary code execution when successfully exploited.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the RTF parser's handling of malformed document structures that trigger uninitialized memory access patterns. When the parser encounters specific RTF tokens within a crafted document, it attempts to dereference a pointer that has not been properly initialized, resulting in a write operation to an unpredictable memory location. This uninitialized pointer behavior creates a scenario where attacker-controlled data can influence memory layout and potentially overwrite critical program structures. The flaw operates at the intersection of buffer management and memory allocation practices within the parser component, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through document parsing operations that are common in office productivity applications.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to users who may encounter malicious RTF documents through email attachments, file sharing platforms, or other means of document distribution. The exploitation requires only social engineering to convince a victim to open a malicious document, making it particularly effective as a delivery mechanism for malware. The attack surface extends beyond simple document viewing to include potential privilege escalation scenarios, as the exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable application. This vulnerability directly maps to attack patterns documented in the attack tree framework where document-based attacks are classified as initial access vectors.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of CWE-457 which specifically addresses "Use of uninitialized variable" and its potential relationship to CWE-121 which covers "Stack-based Buffer Overflow". The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution as it enables remote code execution through document manipulation. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of Atlantis Word Processor, implementing document filtering policies that restrict RTF file types, and deploying sandboxing solutions for document processing. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper memory initialization practices and input validation in document parser implementations, emphasizing that even seemingly benign office applications can contain critical security flaws that require regular security assessment and patch management procedures to address effectively.