CVE-2023-41633 : Security Advisory and Response

Catdoc v0.95 was discovered to contain a NULL pointer dereference via the component xls2csv at src/fileutil.c.

Understanding CVE-2023-41633

This article provides insights into the CVE-2023-41633 vulnerability in Catdoc v0.95.

What is CVE-2023-41633?

CVE-2023-41633 relates to a NULL pointer dereference in Catdoc v0.95, specifically within the component xls2csv at src/fileutil.c.

The Impact of CVE-2023-41633

The vulnerability could potentially lead to a denial of service (DoS) if exploited by an attacker. It may allow them to crash the affected application or even execute arbitrary code.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-41633

This section dives into the technical aspects of the CVE-2023-41633 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises due to a NULL pointer dereference issue in the xls2csv component of Catdoc v0.95 located at src/fileutil.c.

Affected Systems and Versions

All versions of Catdoc v0.95 are affected by CVE-2023-41633, making systems utilizing this software vulnerable to exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious file, causing the application to dereference a NULL pointer, leading to a potential DoS condition or arbitrary code execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems against CVE-2023-41633 requires immediate action and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Catdoc to a patched version if available.
Implement network-level security controls to detect and block potentially malicious files.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches promptly.
Conduct security trainings to educate users on identifying and handling suspicious files.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates for Catdoc v0.95 to mitigate the risk of exploitation.