CVE-2020-12803 : Security Advisory and Response

CVE-2020-12803, assigned by Document Fdn., pertains to a vulnerability in LibreOffice versions prior to 6.4.4 that could allow XForms submissions to overwrite local files.

Understanding CVE-2020-12803

This CVE identifies a security issue in LibreOffice that could potentially lead to the overwriting of local files through XForms submissions.

What is CVE-2020-12803?

ODF documents with forms can be submitted to a URI, including file: URIs, in LibreOffice versions before 6.4.4, enabling the overwriting of local files.

The Impact of CVE-2020-12803

The vulnerability could be exploited to overwrite local files on a user's system, posing a risk of data loss or unauthorized access.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-12803

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

LibreOffice versions prior to 6.4.4 allowed forms to be submitted to any URI, including file: URIs, potentially leading to the overwriting of local files.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: The Document Foundation
Product: LibreOffice
Affected Versions: Prior to 6.4.4

Exploitation Mechanism

The issue arises from the unrestricted submission of forms to file: URIs, enabling the manipulation of local files through XForms submissions.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-12803 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update LibreOffice to version 6.4.4 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Avoid opening ODF documents from untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software to the latest versions to address security flaws.
Educate users on safe document handling practices to prevent exploitation of vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates provided by LibreOffice to address CVE-2020-12803.