CVE-2005-0564 in Word
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Word 2000 and Word 2002, and Microsoft Works Suites 2000 through 2004, might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a .doc file with long font information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw that affected multiple Microsoft Office applications including Word 2000 and Word 2002, along with Works Suites 2000 through 2004. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation when processing font information within .doc files, creating an exploitable condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack. The flaw specifically manifests when the application encounters malformed font records that exceed allocated buffer boundaries during document parsing operations. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue that has been consistently identified as a primary attack vector in software security assessments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote code execution attacks without requiring user interaction beyond opening a malicious document. Attackers can craft specially formatted .doc files containing excessive font data that triggers the buffer overflow condition, potentially allowing them to inject and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application process. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that malicious actors can deliver payloads through email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing platforms without needing physical access to target systems. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes exploitation of software vulnerabilities for remote code execution, and T1059, covering command and scripting interpreters as attack vectors.
The technical exploitation requires careful crafting of font information within the .doc file structure to ensure that the overflow occurs at a predictable location within the stack memory layout. Successful exploitation typically involves overwriting return addresses or function pointers, enabling attackers to redirect program execution flow to malicious code. The vulnerability's prevalence across multiple Office versions indicates a widespread implementation flaw in Microsoft's document parsing libraries, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with legacy software deployments. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of how document processing applications remain prime targets for exploitation due to their complex parsing requirements and user trust models. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling automatic document opening, applying security patches, and deploying application whitelisting controls to prevent execution of untrusted Office documents.
This vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges in securing document processing applications where complex file formats require extensive parsing logic that can introduce numerous potential attack surfaces. The issue highlights the importance of proper bounds checking and memory management practices in application development, particularly for components that handle untrusted input from external sources. Microsoft's response to this vulnerability involved releasing security updates that corrected the buffer overflow condition through improved input validation and memory allocation practices. The remediation process required organizations to carefully test patches in their environments due to the potential for compatibility issues with legitimate document processing operations. This case study serves as a reminder of the critical need for regular security assessments of document processing components and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all software platforms.