CVE-2021-38105 in Presentations
Summary
by MITRE • 10/02/2021
IPPP82.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. This is different from CVE-2021-38102.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-38105 affects Corel Presentations 2020 version 20.0.0.200 through the IPPP82.FLT component which handles file parsing operations. This represents a critical security flaw that falls under the category of out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities, classified as CWE-125 by the Common Weakness Enumeration system. The flaw occurs during the processing of specially crafted presentation files that contain malformed data structures, specifically within the file format parsing logic that handles certain presentation elements. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows an attacker to potentially access memory locations that should remain protected, creating a pathway for unauthorized information disclosure or system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer over-read condition where the application fails to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries during file parsing operations. When Corel Presentations processes a maliciously constructed PPT file, the IPPP82.FLT module attempts to read data from memory locations beyond the intended buffer limits. This occurs because the parser does not adequately check the bounds of data structures or validate the integrity of file headers and content before proceeding with data extraction. The flaw is triggered specifically during the parsing phase of presentation files, where the application encounters unexpected data patterns that cause it to access memory regions that were not properly allocated or validated for the current operation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for users who may encounter malicious presentation files in email attachments, shared documents, or download sources. The exploitation requires user interaction through the simple act of opening a crafted PPT file, making it particularly dangerous in social engineering scenarios where users might be tricked into executing malicious content. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1204.002 which involves user execution of malicious files through social engineering. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as an attacker could potentially extract sensitive data from the application's memory space or even leverage the vulnerability to execute arbitrary code, depending on the memory layout and protection mechanisms in place.
The security implications of this vulnerability extend to both confidentiality and integrity of user data, as unauthorized memory access could expose sensitive information such as user credentials, document contents, or system configuration details. The fact that this vulnerability requires user interaction makes it less likely to be exploited at scale compared to fully automated attacks, but it remains a significant threat in targeted campaigns. Organizations should consider implementing multiple layers of defense including email filtering, user education about suspicious file attachments, and regular software updates to address this specific vulnerability. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution risk through memory corruption patterns indicates that it could potentially be chained with other exploits to achieve more severe outcomes, making proactive remediation essential for maintaining system security.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment from Corel, as well as implementing restrictive file access policies that limit user interaction with potentially malicious files. Network-level protections such as sandboxing presentation file handlers and implementing strict file type validation can provide additional defense in depth. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in file parsing libraries, which should be addressed through comprehensive code reviews and static analysis of file handling components. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and prepare incident response procedures for potential exploitation attempts.