CVE-2006-2389 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Microsoft Office 2003 SP1 and SP2, Office XP SP3, Office 2000 SP3, and other products, allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code via an Office file with a malformed property that triggers memory corruption related to record lengths, aka "Microsoft Office Property Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2006-1316.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting multiple versions of Microsoft Office software including Office 2003 SP1 and SP2, Office XP SP3, and Office 2000 SP3. The issue stems from improper handling of malformed property records within Office file formats, specifically when the software encounters unexpected record length values during file parsing operations. The vulnerability operates under the classification of CWE-125, which encompasses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious Office documents containing malformed property data that triggers buffer overflows or other memory corruption scenarios when the affected software attempts to process these records. The attack requires user interaction as the target must open the malicious file, making it a user-assisted remote code execution vulnerability rather than a fully automated threat. This particular vulnerability differs from CVE-2006-1316, indicating it represents a distinct code path within the Office parsing logic that handles property data structures. The memory corruption occurs during the parsing of structured storage formats where Office applications expect specific record length values but encounter malformed data that causes the application to allocate insufficient memory or access invalid memory regions. This flaw essentially allows an attacker to manipulate the memory layout of the Office application process, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable software. The vulnerability impacts the core document processing functionality of these Office versions and represents a fundamental issue in how the applications handle property data within their internal storage mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution as it fundamentally compromises the security boundaries of Office applications. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can potentially gain complete control over the victim's system, as the execution occurs within the context of the Office application process. The attack vector requires social engineering to convince users to open malicious documents, but once executed, the consequences can be severe including data theft, system compromise, and lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability affects the broader Microsoft Office ecosystem and demonstrates how flaws in document parsing can create significant security risks. From an enterprise security perspective, this vulnerability represents a substantial risk as Office applications are widely used across organizations, making the potential attack surface extremely broad. The exploitation typically involves carefully crafted Office files that contain specially constructed property records with invalid length fields, causing the application to behave unpredictably and allowing for code injection. This vulnerability type aligns with ATT&CK technique T1204.002, which covers "User Execution: Malicious File," and T1059, covering "Command and Scripting Interpreter," as successful exploitation would likely involve executing malicious code within the Office application context. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Office versions indicates a systemic issue within the parsing logic that was not adequately addressed across different product releases.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate protection measures and long-term remediation approaches. Organizations should prioritize applying the relevant Microsoft security updates and patches that address this specific memory corruption issue in Office applications. Until patches are deployed, users should exercise extreme caution when opening Office documents from untrusted sources, particularly those received via email attachments or downloaded from unknown websites. Network-level protections such as email filtering and web content filtering can help reduce the likelihood of users encountering malicious Office files. Security awareness training should emphasize the importance of verifying document sources and avoiding suspicious attachments. Technical controls including application whitelisting and restricted user permissions can limit the damage if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping all Microsoft Office applications updated with the latest service packs and security patches, as these updates typically contain fixes for known memory corruption issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive vulnerability management processes that include regular scanning for vulnerable Office versions and prompt patch deployment. From a defensive standpoint, monitoring for unusual Office process behavior and memory access patterns can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices in document processing applications and the need for robust input validation and memory management. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing sandboxing technologies that can isolate Office applications from critical system resources, reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.