CVE-2005-4131 in Excel
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Microsoft Excel 2000, 2002, and 2003, in Microsoft Office 2000 SP3 and other packages, allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code via an Excel file with a malformed range, which could lead to memory corruption involving an argument to the msvcrt.memmove function, aka "Brand new Microsoft Excel Vulnerability," as originally placed for sale on eBay as item number 7203336538.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting multiple versions of Microsoft Excel and Office suites dating back to 2000. The issue manifests when processing Excel files containing malformed range specifications that trigger improper memory handling during data processing operations. The vulnerability specifically impacts the msvcrt.memmove function call, which is part of the Microsoft Visual C runtime library responsible for memory copying operations. This particular flaw was particularly dangerous because it could be exploited through user-assisted attacks, meaning that an attacker needed to convince a user to open a maliciously crafted Excel file, but once opened, the vulnerability could execute arbitrary code on the target system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common software security weaknesses categorized under CWE-121, which deals with stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities. The flaw operates by manipulating Excel's internal range parsing mechanisms to cause memory corruption during the memmove function execution, which typically occurs when the application attempts to copy data from one memory location to another. This type of vulnerability falls within the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.005, which covers command and scripting interpreter execution through Office applications, and T1203, which involves exploitation of software vulnerabilities through malicious document files. The attack vector specifically leverages social engineering tactics where users are诱导ed to open seemingly legitimate Excel files that contain hidden malicious code structures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to potentially enable full system compromise, as the arbitrary code execution capability allows attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed software versions from 2000 through 2003 meant that it affected organizations across multiple industries and geographical regions, particularly those with legacy systems still running older Microsoft Office versions. The fact that this vulnerability was originally marketed on eBay underscores the dangerous intersection between legitimate software vulnerabilities and criminal exploitation, as it demonstrated how security flaws could be monetized and distributed through unofficial channels. Organizations running affected versions faced significant risk exposure, as the vulnerability could be exploited in targeted attacks against specific users or broader campaigns leveraging the widespread deployment of these Office versions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patching through Microsoft's security updates, which addressed the underlying memory handling issues in the Excel range parsing functionality. Organizations needed to implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all affected systems received updates promptly. Additional protective measures included implementing strict email filtering and document validation procedures, disabling macro execution in Excel, and conducting user awareness training to recognize potentially malicious Office documents. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of maintaining current security patches and demonstrated how seemingly obscure memory corruption issues could have devastating consequences for enterprise security. Network administrators should have deployed intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and implemented application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of unauthorized Office applications. This vulnerability ultimately contributed to the evolution of more sophisticated exploit mitigation techniques and underscored the critical need for continuous vulnerability assessment and remediation processes across all software components within enterprise environments.