CVE-2018-6638 in MathType
Summary
by MITRE
A stack-based buffer overflow (Remote Code Execution) issue was discovered in Design Science MathType 6.9c. This occurs in a function call in which the first argument is a corrupted offset value and the second argument is a stack buffer. This is fixed in 6.9d.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6638 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within Design Science MathType version 6.9c that enables remote code execution. This vulnerability specifically manifests in a function call where the first argument contains a corrupted offset value while the second argument references a stack buffer, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited by attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw stems from improper input validation and memory management within the mathematical equation editing software that processes mathematical expressions and formulas.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic stack-based buffer overflow pattern where an attacker can manipulate the offset value to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is categorized as a fundamental memory safety issue that occurs when data written to a buffer exceeds the allocated stack space. The exploitation mechanism leverages the corrupted offset value to control the execution flow of the application, potentially allowing an attacker to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application process.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations that utilize MathType for document creation and editing, particularly in environments where users might encounter maliciously crafted mathematical expressions or documents. The remote code execution capability means that attackers can compromise systems without requiring local access, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently exchange documents containing mathematical content. The vulnerability affects Windows operating systems and can be exploited through various attack vectors including email attachments, web pages, or file sharing platforms that contain maliciously formatted mathematical expressions.
The remediation for CVE-2018-6638 involves upgrading to Design Science MathType version 6.9d, which includes proper input validation and memory management fixes that prevent the corrupted offset value from causing stack corruption. Security professionals should prioritize this patch deployment across all systems running affected versions of the software, particularly in environments where users handle untrusted documents or mathematical content from external sources. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as application whitelisting, sandboxing of document processing applications, and network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access, and demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in widely used productivity applications.