CVE-2006-2492 in Word
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Microsoft Word in Office 2000 SP3, Office XP SP3, Office 2003 Sp1 and SP2, and Microsoft Works Suites through 2006, allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code via a malformed object pointer, as originally reported by ISC on 20060519 for a zero-day attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in Microsoft Word applications across multiple versions including Office 2000 SP3, Office XP SP3, Office 2003 SP1 and SP2, as well as Microsoft Works Suites through 2006. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation when processing malformed object pointers within Word documents, creating a condition where an attacker can manipulate memory allocation patterns to overwrite adjacent memory regions. The flaw specifically manifests when the application attempts to handle corrupted or specially crafted object references during document parsing operations, leading to unpredictable memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the targeted user. This vulnerability was originally reported by the Internet Security Consortium on May 19, 2006, and represented a zero-day attack vector that caught many organizations off guard due to its ability to leverage user interaction for exploitation.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs within the document parsing engine of Microsoft Word, where object pointer validation fails to properly check boundaries when processing structured document elements. When a maliciously crafted document is opened, the application's memory management routines attempt to allocate space for object pointers without adequate bounds checking, allowing an attacker to write data beyond the allocated buffer space. This memory corruption can overwrite critical program execution structures including return addresses, function pointers, or other control data, enabling the attacker to redirect program flow to malicious code injected into the memory space. The vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which classifies buffer overflow conditions where insufficient boundary checking allows memory to be overwritten, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution through document-based attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise when exploited successfully. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain full control of the affected system, potentially leading to data theft, persistence mechanisms, or lateral movement within a network. The user-assisted nature of the attack means that victims must open a malicious document for exploitation to occur, making social engineering campaigns particularly effective in targeting this vulnerability. Organizations running affected versions of Microsoft Word and Works Suites face significant risk exposure, as these applications were widely deployed across enterprise environments and typically executed with elevated privileges. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Microsoft Office versions and Works Suites created a broad attack surface that required immediate patch management attention and highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all Microsoft applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches released in response to this vulnerability, along with comprehensive network monitoring for suspicious document handling activities. Organizations should implement strict document validation policies, including disabling automatic execution of macros and implementing sandboxed environments for document processing. Network segmentation and email filtering solutions should be configured to block potentially malicious documents before they reach end users. Additional defensive measures include regular security awareness training to reduce successful social engineering attacks, implementation of application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unauthorized programs, and maintaining detailed incident response procedures for potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and conducting regular security assessments of applications to identify and remediate similar buffer overflow conditions before they can be exploited by malicious actors.