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CVE Record

CVE-2018-4040: An exploitable uninitialized pointer vulnerability exists in the rich text format parser of Atlantis Word P...

An exploitable uninitialized pointer vulnerability exists in the rich text format parser of Atlantis Word Processor, version 3.2.7.2. A specially crafted document can cause certain RTF tokens to dereference a pointer that has been uninitialized and then write to it. An attacker must convince a victim to open a specially crafted document in order to trigger this vulnerability.

HighCVSS 8.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2018-4040 is a high-severity document-opening flaw in Atlantis Word Processor. A malicious document can trigger memory corruption when opened, potentially allowing serious compromise of the user’s system. The attacker still needs the victim to open the crafted file.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted endpoint risk. Prioritize remediation where Atlantis Word Processor is deployed to users who handle external documents, because successful exploitation could affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Technical view

The issue is an uninitialized pointer vulnerability in the Atlantis Word Processor RTF parser. Certain RTF tokens can cause dereference of an uninitialized pointer and a write through it. Sources list Atlantis Word Processor 3.2.7.1 and 3.2.7.2 as affected, with CVSS 3.0 score 8.8.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on endpoints where Atlantis Word Processor 3.2.7.1 or 3.2.7.2 is installed and users receive or open untrusted documents, especially RTF-style attachments or downloads.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Exploitation requires social engineering or another delivery path that persuades a user to open a specially crafted document.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the CVE record and Talos advisory metadata in the bundle. No CWE, fixed version, exploit-in-the-wild claim, or vendor patch details are provided here, so validation should avoid assumptions beyond the listed affected versions and user-interaction requirement.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory endpoints for Atlantis Word Processor 3.2.7.1 and 3.2.7.2.
  • Check Atlantis or vendor guidance for fixed releases before continued use.
  • Restrict opening untrusted RTF documents on affected systems.
  • Use email and web controls to quarantine suspicious document attachments.
  • Remove affected software where business use is not required.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether affected Atlantis Word Processor versions exist in software inventory.
  • Verify document-handling users are not running 3.2.7.1 or 3.2.7.2.
  • Review mail and web controls for RTF attachment filtering coverage.
  • Check endpoint telemetry for suspicious document-open events involving Atlantis Word Processor.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
3

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2018-4040 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
8.8 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
8.8CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.85.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

8.8High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2018-4040Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
TalosAtlantis Word ProcessorAtlantis Word Processor 3.2.7.1, 3.2.7.2Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.