CVE-2022-4741 in docconv
Summary
by MITRE • 12/26/2022
A vulnerability was found in docconv up to 1.2.0 and classified as problematic. This issue affects the function ConvertDocx/ConvertODT/ConvertPages/ConvertXML/XMLToText. The manipulation leads to uncontrolled memory allocation. The attack may be initiated remotely. Upgrading to version 1.2.1 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is 42bcff666855ab978e67a9041d0cdea552f20301. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-216779.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-4741 represents a critical memory allocation flaw within the docconv library, a popular Go-based document conversion tool used extensively for processing various document formats including DOCX, ODT, Pages, and XML files. This vulnerability specifically impacts the library's conversion functions that handle document parsing and text extraction, making it a significant concern for applications that rely on automated document processing. The flaw manifests when these functions process maliciously crafted documents, leading to uncontrolled memory allocation patterns that can result in system resource exhaustion and potential denial of service conditions. The vulnerability was classified as problematic due to its potential for remote exploitation, meaning attackers could trigger the memory exhaustion through network-based document processing without requiring local system access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the docconv library's document parsing routines. When the affected functions ConvertDocx, ConvertODT, ConvertPages, or ConvertXML/XMLToText process specially crafted documents, they fail to properly constrain memory allocation during the parsing process. This allows attackers to craft documents that cause the library to allocate excessive memory resources, potentially leading to memory exhaustion that can crash the application or make the system unresponsive. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the memory handling mechanisms of the document conversion library, making it particularly dangerous in environments where document processing is automated or exposed through web services. The issue is categorized under CWE-400, which addresses uncontrolled resource consumption, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for resource exhaustion attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple document formats, expanding the attack surface and increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-4741 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it can severely disrupt document processing workflows in enterprise environments where automated document handling is critical. Systems that process large volumes of documents, such as content management systems, document repositories, or automated processing pipelines, become vulnerable to attacks that can cause cascading failures throughout the infrastructure. When exploited, this vulnerability can lead to complete service unavailability, requiring system administrators to restart services and potentially lose processing queues. The remote exploitation capability makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in cloud environments or web applications where document uploads are permitted, as attackers can easily target these systems without requiring physical access. Organizations using docconv in production environments face significant risk of operational disruption and potential data loss during exploitation attempts.
The remediation for this vulnerability requires immediate upgrading to version 1.2.1 of the docconv library, which includes the patch identified by commit hash 42bcff666855ab978e67a9041d0cdea552f20301. This update addresses the memory allocation issues by implementing proper input validation and resource constraints within the document processing functions. Organizations should conduct thorough testing of their document processing workflows after applying the patch to ensure that legitimate document processing continues to function correctly. The fix specifically targets the problematic memory allocation patterns in the conversion functions and implements proper bounds checking to prevent excessive resource consumption. Security teams should also consider implementing additional monitoring and rate limiting for document processing services to detect and prevent potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of keeping third-party libraries updated and implementing proper input validation mechanisms in document processing applications. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques or containerization for document processing services to limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the necessity of following secure coding practices and proper resource management in library development, particularly for applications that handle untrusted input data.