CVE-2019-5089 in Able2Extract Professional
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable memory corruption vulnerability exists in Investintech Able2Extract Professional 4.0.7 x64. A specially crafted JPEG file can cause an out-of-bounds memory write, allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the victim machine. An attacker could exploit a vulnerability by providing the user with a specially crafted JPEG file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5089 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Investintech Able2Extract Professional version 4.0.7 x64 software. This issue manifests as an out-of-bounds memory write condition that occurs when the application processes specially crafted JPEG image files. The vulnerability falls under the category of heap-based buffer overflow conditions and can be classified as a CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write according to the Common Weakness Enumeration standards. The flaw exists in the image parsing functionality of the software where insufficient bounds checking occurs during JPEG file processing, allowing an attacker to manipulate memory layout and potentially overwrite critical program structures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious JPEG file that, when opened by the vulnerable software, triggers the memory corruption. The out-of-bounds write condition occurs during the decompression or parsing phase of JPEG processing where the application fails to validate the dimensions or data boundaries of the image file. This type of vulnerability can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, as it leverages a client-side application vulnerability to execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability's exploitation vector is particularly concerning as it relies on social engineering to deliver the malicious file to an unsuspecting user who then opens it with the vulnerable software, making it a classic example of a file format-based attack.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-5089 extends beyond simple code execution, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain full control over the victim machine. The memory corruption could potentially overwrite function pointers, return addresses, or other critical program state information, enabling privilege escalation or persistent access. Organizations using Investintech Able2Extract Professional 4.0.7 x64 are particularly vulnerable as this software is commonly used for document conversion and data extraction tasks, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise endpoints. The vulnerability's severity is compounded by the fact that JPEG files are widely used and trusted, making user awareness and training crucial for preventing successful exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate software updates from Investintech to address the memory corruption issue, along with network-based filtering to block suspicious JPEG files from entering the organization's environment. System administrators should implement application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of potentially vulnerable software, while also monitoring for unusual file processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in multimedia processing libraries, as highlighted by CWE-129 Input Validation and CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for handling untrusted document formats and establishing incident response procedures specifically designed to address client-side exploitation attempts.