CVE-2023-52168 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified in the NtfsHandler.cpp component of 7-Zip prior to version 24.01, specifically affecting the 7zz executable variant. The vulnerability arises from improper bounds checking when handling NTFS file system data within archives, allowing an attacker to overwrite two bytes at multiple offsets beyond the allocated buffer size. The overwrite occurs at calculated offsets of buffer+512*i-2 for i values starting at 9 and increasing, which can corrupt adjacent memory structures. This flaw can be exploited by crafting malicious NTFS-based archive files that, when processed by the vulnerable 7-Zip handler, trigger the overflow. The vulnerability does not require any privileges or user interaction, increasing its risk profile. Successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary code execution, complete compromise of the host system, or denial of service by corrupting memory and crashing the application. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.4 reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, combined with low attack complexity and no required privileges or user interaction. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported yet, but the vulnerability’s nature makes it a prime candidate for future weaponization. The lack of a patch at the time of reporting necessitates immediate defensive measures to reduce exposure.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2023-52168 is significant due to the widespread use of 7-Zip as a free, open-source archive utility in both enterprise and personal environments. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution, enabling attackers to deploy malware, steal sensitive data, or disrupt critical services. This is particularly concerning for sectors handling large volumes of file archives, such as finance, government, healthcare, and manufacturing. The vulnerability affects confidentiality by potentially exposing sensitive information, integrity by allowing data manipulation, and availability by causing application or system crashes. Given the low complexity of exploitation and no need for user interaction or privileges, attackers could automate attacks targeting vulnerable systems. European organizations with automated file processing pipelines or those that extract archives from untrusted sources are at elevated risk. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the threat landscape could rapidly evolve, increasing the urgency for remediation.

1. Immediately audit and inventory all systems to identify installations of 7-Zip, especially the 7zz executable, and determine versions in use. 2. Until an official patch is released, restrict or disable the use of vulnerable 7-Zip versions for processing NTFS-based archives, particularly in automated workflows. 3. Implement file integrity and malware scanning on all incoming archive files before extraction to detect potentially malicious content. 4. Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing for archive extraction processes to contain potential exploitation attempts. 5. Monitor system and application logs for unusual crashes or behavior related to 7-Zip usage that could indicate exploitation attempts. 6. Educate users and administrators about the risks of opening untrusted archive files and enforce strict policies on handling external data. 7. Once a patch is available, prioritize its deployment across all affected systems without delay. 8. Consider alternative archive tools with no known vulnerabilities as a temporary workaround if patching is delayed. 9. Review and update incident response plans to include scenarios involving exploitation of archive handling vulnerabilities.