CVE-2005-1683 in winword
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in winword.exe 10.2627.6714 and earlier in Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, before SP3 for Word 2002, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted mcw file.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1683 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in Microsoft Word for Macintosh versions 10.2627.6714 and earlier, specifically affecting Word 2002 before Service Pack 3. This security issue manifests within the winword.exe process which is responsible for handling Microsoft Word documents on macOS platforms. The flaw occurs when the application processes specially crafted mcw files, which are typically used for storing Word document formatting information and other metadata. The buffer overflow vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and memory management practices within the application's file parsing routines, creating an exploitable condition that can be triggered through remote delivery of malicious content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking during the processing of mcw file structures, which are part of Microsoft's proprietary document format specifications. When a maliciously crafted mcw file is opened or even accessed by Word, the application fails to properly validate the size and structure of data elements within the file, leading to memory corruption that can overwrite adjacent memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and also relates to CWE-125, representing out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities that can occur during improper memory handling. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely through various delivery mechanisms including email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing platforms, making it a significant threat vector for attackers seeking to compromise Mac systems running vulnerable versions of Microsoft Word.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable arbitrary code execution on affected systems. Attackers can leverage this buffer overflow to inject malicious code into the memory space of the winword.exe process, potentially gaining full control over the compromised system. The vulnerability affects a substantial user base of Mac users running older versions of Microsoft Word, particularly those who frequently receive or open documents from external sources. This makes the exploit particularly attractive to threat actors targeting Mac environments, as Word remains a widely used productivity application with extensive document sharing capabilities. The remote exploitation capability means that users do not need to actively open the malicious file to be compromised, as simply accessing the file through a web browser or file manager can trigger the vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate deployment of Microsoft's security patches and service packs, specifically Service Pack 3 for Word 2002, which addresses the buffer overflow conditions through improved input validation and memory management routines. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management policies to ensure all Microsoft Office installations remain current with security updates, as this vulnerability was addressed through Microsoft's regular security update cycle. Network administrators should also consider implementing email filtering and web content scanning solutions to prevent the delivery of potentially malicious mcw files to end users. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and highlights the risks associated with running outdated software versions, particularly in enterprise environments where document sharing is common. Additionally, users should be educated about the dangers of opening untrusted document files and should be encouraged to verify document sources before opening attachments or downloading files from unknown origins. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for proper software lifecycle management and the implementation of defense-in-depth strategies to protect against remote code execution threats targeting productivity applications.