Advertisement
Promo

Security threats Toolkit

OpenOffice patches file-processing flaws

Tom Espiner ZDNet.co.uk

Published: 30 Oct 2008 15:06 GMT

  • Email
  • Trackback
  • Clip Link
  • Print friendly
  • Post Comment

OpenOffice has updated its productivity suite to patch two flaws that could lead to arbitrary code execution.

OpenOffice.org is commonly found on Linux netbooks and is Ubuntu's standard spreadsheet, word processor, database and presentation package.

The flaws affect all versions of OpenOffice.org prior to 2.4.2. One flaw, detailed in security alert CVE-2008-2237, lies in the way OpenOffice 2.x processes WMF files. The other flaw, detailed in CVE-2008-2238, is due to the way OpenOffice 2.x processes EMF files.

Both vulnerabilities may allow a remote unprivileged user who tricks a local user into opening a manipulated a StarOffice or StarSuite document to execute arbitrary commands on the system. No working exploit is known at the moment for either flaw.

Some netbook makers have turned to OpenOffice's productivity applications for inclusion on models powered by Linux. The Asus Eee comes with OpenOffice 2.0 and both Acer's Aspire One and Everex's Cloudbook come with version 2.3.

There are no workarounds. Both issues are addressed in OpenOffice.org 2.4.2. OpenOffice.org 3.0 is not affected by these vulnerabilities.

  • Email
  • Trackback
  • Clip Link
  • Print friendlyPrint with EPSON

Did you find this article useful?


Full Talkback thread

0 comments

Company/Topic Alerts

Create a new alert from the list below:





Video icon

Video

Sentry Posts Blog

Motorola Droid Drops Today: Happy Droi...

Motorola Droid Drops Today: Happy Droid Day America! Author: Eric Everson, Mobile Security Expert If you’re wondering what all of the buzz is about with words like Droid and Android... More

Post a comment

Mobile Security Profile: BlackBerry St...

Mobile Security Profile: BlackBerry Storm2 Author: Eric Everson BlackBerry handsets are a staple of office culture; from syncing calendars to sharing business-related data,... More

Post a comment

South Korea plans to fingerprint visit...

The South Korean authorities could fingerprint and photograph foreign visitors from 2012, the Korea Times reported on Tuesday. Barring diplomats and government operatives, all visitors... More

Post a comment


Skip Sub Navigation Links to CNET Brand Links

Help

Become part of the ZDNet community.

Newsletters