CVE-2021-38104 in Presentations
Summary
by MITRE • 10/02/2021
IPPP72.FLT in Corel Presentations 2020 20.0.0.200 is affected by an Out-of-bounds Read vulnerability when parsing a crafted file. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to access unauthorized system memory 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-2021-38104 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within Corel Presentations 2020 version 20.0.0.200 specifically affecting the IPPP72.FLT component. This issue stems from insufficient input validation during the parsing of presentation files, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted ppt files can trigger memory access violations. The vulnerability operates at the file parsing layer where the application fails to properly bounds-check array indices when processing structured data within the presentation file format. This particular flaw falls under the CWE-129 category of Improper Validation of Array Index, which is classified as a fundamental weakness in software design that allows attackers to manipulate memory access patterns. The vulnerability exists within the file format parser that handles the internal structure of presentation documents, specifically when processing certain metadata or embedded content within the ppt file format.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption as it enables unauthorized memory access that could potentially expose sensitive data or system information. When a victim opens a maliciously crafted presentation file, the vulnerable parser attempts to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, which can result in information disclosure or even system instability. The attack requires user interaction through opening the malicious file, making it a client-side exploitation vector that fits within the ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution. This means that the threat actor must successfully social engineer the victim into opening the crafted file, typically through phishing campaigns or malicious file sharing. The memory access pattern that triggers this vulnerability occurs during the file parsing phase when the application attempts to read structured data from the presentation file, particularly in sections related to multimedia content or embedded objects.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-38104 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Corel Presentations software to address the bounds-checking deficiency in the IPPP72.FLT component. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies that prevent opening of presentation files from untrusted sources or implement sandboxing techniques that isolate file processing operations. Network administrators should consider deploying email filtering solutions that can detect and block potentially malicious presentation files, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to monitor for suspicious file parsing activities. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-129 highlights the need for robust input validation mechanisms that enforce proper array bounds checking, and organizations should conduct security assessments to identify similar issues in other file processing components. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of verifying file sources and avoiding opening attachments from unknown senders, as the exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction to succeed. The remediation approach should also include monitoring for indicators of compromise such as unusual memory access patterns or unexpected file parsing behavior that may signal exploitation attempts.