CVE-2002-0861 in Project
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Office Web Components (OWC) 2000 and 2002 allows remote attackers to bypass the "Allow paste operations via script" setting, even when it is disabled, via the (1) Copy method of the Cell object or (2) the Paste method of the Range object.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2021
Microsoft Office Web Components 2000 and 2002 contain a critical security flaw that undermines the intended protection mechanisms for paste operations within web-based office environments. This vulnerability specifically targets the security controls designed to prevent unauthorized script-based paste operations, creating a significant risk for users who rely on these components for document processing and data manipulation. The flaw exists in the implementation of the Copy method within the Cell object and the Paste method within the Range object, both of which are core elements of the OWC architecture. When users disable the "Allow paste operations via script" setting, they expect that script-based paste functionality will be completely restricted, yet this vulnerability allows attackers to circumvent these protections through direct method invocation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the OWC components. The Copy method of the Cell object and Paste method of the Range object appear to lack proper authorization checks that would normally verify whether script-based paste operations are permitted according to the user-configured security settings. This represents a classic case of inadequate security controls where the application fails to enforce the security policy that users have explicitly configured. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through malicious scripts that directly invoke these methods without proper authentication or authorization checks, effectively bypassing the intended security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations relying on Microsoft Office Web Components, as it allows remote attackers to execute unauthorized paste operations that could potentially lead to data corruption, information disclosure, or even arbitrary code execution depending on the context. Attackers can leverage this flaw to paste malicious content into documents or spreadsheets, potentially injecting harmful scripts or data that would normally be blocked by the security configuration. The vulnerability affects both versions 2000 and 2002 of the components, indicating a persistent flaw in the architectural design that was not adequately addressed in subsequent releases. This creates a significant risk for enterprise environments where these components are deployed in web applications or server environments where remote code execution could lead to complete system compromise.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including disabling the affected components when possible, implementing network-level restrictions to prevent unauthorized access to web applications that utilize these components, and ensuring that proper security policies are enforced through alternative means. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and demonstrates how inadequate access control mechanisms can lead to privilege escalation and unauthorized operations. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers can leverage script-based paste operations to execute malicious code or manipulate data. Additionally, this represents a failure in the principle of least privilege where the system allows operations that should be restricted based on user configuration, making it particularly dangerous in environments where security policies are strictly enforced. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation, as well as the need for thorough security testing of all methods and functions that could potentially be exploited to bypass security controls.