CVE-2019-15783 in Lute-Tab
Summary
by MITRE
Lute-Tab before 2019-08-23 has a buffer overflow in pdf_print.cc.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-15783 affects Lute-Tab versions prior to 2019-08-23 and represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the pdf_print.cc component of the software. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 buffer overflow category, which occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of a fixed-length buffer, potentially corrupting adjacent memory locations. The flaw specifically manifests during PDF printing operations, indicating that the application fails to properly validate input data length when processing print requests for PDF documents.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the pdf_print.cc file where the application handles PDF rendering and printing functionality. When processing certain PDF documents, particularly those containing malformed or excessively large data structures, the software attempts to write data into a buffer without sufficient validation of the data size relative to the allocated buffer space. This condition creates an exploitable scenario where an attacker could craft malicious PDF content that triggers the overflow during the print operation, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or application crash.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant security risks to organizations utilizing Lute-Tab software for document processing and printing tasks. The buffer overflow could be exploited through social engineering attacks where users are tricked into printing malicious PDF files, or through automated exploitation if the application processes PDFs from untrusted sources without proper sanitization. The impact extends beyond simple application instability to potentially allow privilege escalation or remote code execution depending on the execution environment and user permissions. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves the exploitation of input validation flaws to gain unauthorized access or execute malicious code.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2019-15783 requires immediate deployment of the patched version of Lute-Tab released on or after 2019-08-23, which includes proper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms. Organizations should implement additional security controls such as restricting PDF file processing to trusted sources, implementing sandboxing techniques for PDF handling operations, and monitoring print queue activities for anomalous behavior. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of systems running vulnerable versions of the software. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular software updates and security patches, particularly for applications handling untrusted document formats, and aligns with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-128 for vulnerability management and remediation.