Apache OpenOffice up to 4.1.15 Bullet Image improper authorization

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Apache OpenOffice up to 4.1.15. This affects an unknown part of the component Bullet Image Handler. Executing a manipulation can lead to improper authorization. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2025-64404. The attack can be launched remotely. No exploit exists. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Apache OpenOffice up to 4.1.15. This vulnerability affects an unknown code block of the component Bullet Image Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a improper authorization vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-285. The product does not perform or incorrectly performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Apache OpenOffice documents can contain links to other files. A missing Authorization vulnerability in Apache OpenOffice allowed an attacker to craft a document that would cause external links to be loaded without prompt. In the affected versions of Apache OpenOffice, documents that used background fill images, or bullet images, linked to external files would load the contents of those files without prompting the user for permission to do so. This issue affects Apache OpenOffice: through 4.1.15. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 4.1.16, which fixes the issue.

The advisory is shared for download at lists.apache.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-64404. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 11/15/2025). The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1548.002.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 275412 (Apache OpenOffice < 4.1.16 Multiple Vulnerabilities), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 4.1.16 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (275412) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2577). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Apache OpenOffice

Productinfo

Type

• Office Suite Software

Vendor

• Apache

Name

• OpenOffice

Version

• 4.1.0
• 4.1.1
• 4.1.2
• 4.1.3
• 4.1.4
• 4.1.5
• 4.1.6
• 4.1.7
• 4.1.8
• 4.1.9
• 4.1.10
• 4.1.11
• 4.1.12
• 4.1.13
• 4.1.14
• 4.1.15

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.apache.org/

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Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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