IBM SPSS VsVIEW6.ocx ActiveX Control Multiple Methods Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

January 30th, 2012
ZDI-12-020 ZDI-CAN-1297

CVE ID

CVE-2012-0189

CVSS Score

7.5 AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

Affected Vendors

IBM

Affected Products

SPSS

Vulnerability Details


This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of IBM SPSS. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.

The specific flaw exists within the SaveDoc and PrintFile functions exposed by the VsVIEW6.ocx ActiveX control. The SaveDoc function causes a file to be created at an arbitrary path specified by the first argument (FileName). The file contents can be controlled by setting the 'Header' member and calling PrintFile() with the same path argument. These behaviors can be exploited by a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system.

Additional Details

IBM has issued an update to correct this vulnerability. More details can be found at:
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21577951

Disclosure Timeline

  • 2011-07-20 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
  • 2012-01-30 - Coordinated public release of advisory

Credit

Andrea Micalizzi aka rgod

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