'Highly critical' update for OpenOffice

Stephen Withers
Thursday, 06 December 2007 13:03

Business IT - Open Source

OpenOffice 2.3.1 fixes a variety of bugs, but one of the most important concerns a vulnerability in the database engine shipped with the package.

A flaw in the HSQLDB database engine could be exploited to execute arbitrary static Java code if an attacker could induce a user to open a maliciously crafted database document.

Secunia rates the vulnerability as 'highly critical'.

OpenOffice 2.3.1 includes HSQLDB 1.8.0.9, which fixes the issue. Any version prior to 2.3.1 should be updated. Since HSQLBD is written in Java, all supported platforms are affected.

Users of OpenOffice derivatives should either watch for a corresponding update or (if necessary) install the revised version of the database which can be downloaded via hsqldb.org.