CVE-2021-38103 in Presentations
Summary
by MITRE • 10/02/2021
IBJPG2.FLT in Corel Presentations 2020 20.0.0.200 is affected by an Out-of-bounds Write vulnerability when parsing a crafted file. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious PPT file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-38103 affects Corel Presentations 2020 version 20.0.0.200 through an out-of-bounds write flaw in the IBJPG2.FLT component. This file format loader module processes presentation files and becomes susceptible to memory corruption when handling specially crafted image data within PowerPoint presentations. The vulnerability resides in the image processing pipeline where insufficient bounds checking occurs during the parsing of JPEG image data embedded within presentation files. The flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition where maliciously constructed data can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write which is classified as a critical memory safety issue in software development practices.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious PowerPoint file containing specially formatted JPEG data that triggers the out-of-bounds write condition when the vulnerable Corel Presentations application attempts to render the image. The attack vector necessitates user interaction since victims must open the malicious file for the exploit to be successful, making this a client-side attack that relies on social engineering or phishing techniques. When the application processes the crafted file, the insufficient input validation in the IBJPG2.FLT module allows memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code within the security context of the currently logged-in user. This execution context presents significant risk as it could potentially escalate privileges or access sensitive system resources depending on the user's permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass potential system compromise and data theft. Attackers could use this vulnerability to deploy malware, establish persistence mechanisms, or exfiltrate sensitive information from affected systems. The vulnerability affects users running Corel Presentations 2020, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where presentation software is widely used for business communications and confidential meetings. The requirement for user interaction limits the automatic exploitation potential but does not eliminate the threat as social engineering campaigns can effectively target specific user groups. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessments and incident response planning, as it represents a potential entry point for more sophisticated attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-38103 should include immediate patching of affected Corel Presentations installations to address the memory safety issue in the IBJPG2.FLT module. System administrators should implement strict file validation policies that scan presentation files for suspicious content before allowing them to be opened, particularly in high-security environments. Network-based protections such as email filtering and web proxies can help prevent malicious files from reaching users by blocking known malicious file types or suspicious content patterns. User education programs should emphasize the importance of verifying file sources and avoiding opening unexpected presentation files from untrusted sources. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting controls that restrict which applications can process presentation files can provide defense-in-depth protection against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in software development, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution which covers the use of malicious files to execute code on target systems through user interaction.