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Multiple Vendor OpenOffice OLE DocumentSummaryInformation Heap Overflow Vulnerability


I. BACKGROUND

OpenOffice is an open-source desktop office suite for many of today's popular operating systems. Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) is a proprietary binary file format developed by Microsoft. OLE is used for Office files such as PowerPoint (PPT), Excel (XLS), and Word (DOC). More information is available from the following URL.

http://www.openoffice.org/

II. DESCRIPTION

Remote exploitation of a heap based buffer overflow vulnerability in OpenOffice.org's OpenOffice, as included in various vendors' operating system distributions, could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user.

The vulnerability exists within the importer for files stored using the OLE format. When parsing the "DocumentSummaryInformation" stream, the vulnerable code does not correctly verify the size of a destination buffer before copying data from the file into it. This results in an exploitable heap overflow.

III. ANALYSIS

Exploitation of this vulnerability results in the execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the user opening the file. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must persuade a user to open a malicious file.

IV. DETECTION

iDefense confirmed the existence of this vulnerability in OpenOffice version 2.3.1. Other versions may also be affected.

V. WORKAROUND

iDefense is currently unaware of any workarounds for this issue.

VI. VENDOR RESPONSE

The OpenOffice.org team has addressed this vulnerability with the release of version 2.4. For more information, consult the OOo Security Bulletin at the following URL.

http://www.openoffice.org/security/cves/CVE-2008-0320.html

VII. CVE INFORMATION

The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project has assigned the name CVE-2008-0320 to this issue. This is a candidate for inclusion in the CVE list (http://cve.mitre.org/), which standardizes names for security problems.

VIII. DISCLOSURE TIMELINE

01/08/2008 Initial vendor response 01/08/2008 Initial vendor notification 04/17/2008 Coordinated public disclosure

IX. CREDIT

This vulnerability was reported to iDefense by Marsu.

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X. LEGAL NOTICES

Copyright © 2008 iDefense, Inc.

Permission is granted for the redistribution of this alert electronically. It may not be edited in any way without the express written consent of iDefense. If you wish to reprint the whole or any part of this alert in any other medium other than electronically, please e-mail customer service for permission.

Disclaimer: The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing based on currently available information. Use of the information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are no warranties with regard to this information. Neither the author nor the publisher accepts any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on, this information.



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