CVE-2023-37601 in Office Suite Premium
Summary
by MITRE • 07/20/2023
Office Suite Premium v10.9.1.42602 was discovered to contain a local file inclusion (LFI) vulnerability via the component /etc/hosts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-37601 represents a critical local file inclusion flaw within Office Suite Premium version 10.9.1.42602 that specifically exploits the /etc/hosts component. This weakness allows attackers to manipulate file access mechanisms and potentially read arbitrary files on the target system. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper handling of file paths within the application's processing logic. When the software processes user-supplied data that references the /etc/hosts file, it fails to properly sanitize or validate the input parameters, creating an avenue for malicious file access. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal attacks. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture and input validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially enable attackers to access sensitive system files and configuration data. An attacker exploiting this LFI vulnerability could retrieve system credentials, application configuration files, database connection details, and other sensitive information stored within the system's file structure. The attack vector leverages the application's interaction with the /etc/hosts file, which typically contains hostname-to-IP address mappings and may contain sensitive network configuration data. This vulnerability aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique T1083 - File and Directory Discovery, as it enables adversaries to enumerate system files and potentially gain deeper insights into the target environment. The vulnerability's exploitation could lead to privilege escalation, lateral movement, and ultimately full system compromise depending on the application's execution context and the permissions of the affected service.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-37601 should focus on immediate patching of the affected Office Suite Premium version to address the root cause of the local file inclusion vulnerability. Organizations must implement proper input validation and sanitization measures to prevent malicious path traversal attempts, particularly when processing user-supplied data that could influence file access operations. The implementation of a robust secure coding practice framework should include mandatory parameter validation, strict file access controls, and proper input filtering mechanisms. Additionally, system administrators should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application's codebase and other software components. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit potential exploitation paths, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual file access patterns that might indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process must also include thorough testing of the patched version to ensure that the fix does not introduce regressions or negatively impact legitimate application functionality, as the vulnerability's exploitation could potentially enable more sophisticated attacks such as remote code execution if combined with other vulnerabilities in the system.