CVE-2024-54028 is a high-severity integer underflow vulnerability (CWE-191) found in version 0.95 of catdoc, a utility used to extract text from Microsoft Office documents. The flaw exists specifically in the OLE Document DIFAT Parser component of catdoc. An integer underflow occurs when a calculation results in a value smaller than the minimum representable integer, causing wraparound behavior. In this case, processing a specially crafted malformed OLE document triggers the underflow, which leads to heap-based memory corruption. This memory corruption can be exploited by an attacker who supplies a malicious file to the vulnerable catdoc parser, potentially allowing arbitrary code execution or denial of service. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 8.4 (high), reflecting the vulnerability's ability to compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability without requiring privileges or user interaction, but with local attack vector (AV:L). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability's root cause is an unchecked arithmetic operation in the DIFAT parsing logic, which mishandles file structure metadata, leading to unsafe memory operations. Given catdoc's role in document processing and text extraction, this vulnerability poses a significant risk where untrusted documents are processed automatically or manually on systems running the affected version.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-54028 can be substantial, especially in sectors relying on automated document processing workflows such as legal, financial, government, and healthcare institutions. Exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution, enabling attackers to gain control over affected systems, steal sensitive data, or disrupt operations. The vulnerability affects confidentiality by potentially exposing sensitive document contents, integrity by allowing malicious modification or corruption of data, and availability by causing crashes or denial of service. Since catdoc is often used in Linux-based environments for document conversion or indexing, organizations using open-source tools for document handling are at risk. The local attack vector implies that attackers need access to the system or must trick users into opening malicious files locally, which could occur via phishing or insider threats. The lack of required privileges or user interaction lowers the barrier for exploitation once local access is obtained. This vulnerability could also be leveraged in multi-stage attacks targeting document processing servers or endpoints, increasing the attack surface. European organizations with compliance obligations around data protection (e.g., GDPR) must consider the risk of data breaches stemming from this flaw.

Immediate mitigation steps include restricting the use of catdoc 0.95 to trusted documents only and avoiding processing files from unverified sources. Organizations should implement strict file validation and sandboxing when handling OLE documents to contain potential exploitation attempts. Monitoring and logging document processing activities can help detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation. Until an official patch is released, consider replacing catdoc with alternative, actively maintained document parsing tools that do not exhibit this vulnerability. If catdoc is embedded in larger workflows or services, isolate these components in hardened containers or virtual machines to limit impact. Security teams should also educate users about the risks of opening suspicious documents and enforce least privilege principles to reduce local attack opportunities. Regularly check for vendor updates or community patches addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available.