CVE-2007-1238 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Office 2003 allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) by attempting to insert a corrupted WMF file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2019
Microsoft Office 2003 contains a critical vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks through manipulated WMF file insertion. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the application's handling of Windows Metafile format files, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the software's rendering capabilities. The flaw exists in the application's image processing subsystem where it fails to properly validate the structure and content of WMF files before attempting to render them within Office documents. When a user attempts to insert a corrupted WMF file into an Office document, the application's processing routine encounters malformed data that triggers an unhandled exception, leading to application instability and eventual crash.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions in software implementations. The vulnerability operates through a user-assisted remote attack vector, meaning that the malicious WMF file must be presented to the victim through some form of interaction such as email attachment, document sharing, or web browsing. Attackers can craft specially designed WMF files that contain malformed headers or invalid data sequences which cause Office 2003 to attempt memory operations beyond allocated bounds. This type of vulnerability represents a classic buffer overflow scenario where the application does not properly validate the size or structure of incoming data before processing it, resulting in memory corruption and subsequent application termination.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability to potentially disrupt business operations and productivity within organizations that rely on Microsoft Office 2003. When the application crashes, users lose unsaved work and may experience extended downtime while the application restarts or system administrators investigate the cause of the failure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Office 2003 may be used for critical document creation, collaboration, and business communications. Additionally, the user-assisted nature of the attack means that social engineering may be required to deliver the malicious file, potentially making the attack more sophisticated and harder to detect through standard security monitoring.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability effectively. The most immediate solution involves applying Microsoft security patches and updates that address the WMF processing flaws in Office 2003. System administrators should also consider implementing content filtering solutions that scan for and block suspicious WMF files before they reach end users. Network-based security controls such as intrusion prevention systems can be configured to detect and block known malicious patterns associated with this vulnerability. Furthermore, user education programs should emphasize the importance of verifying document sources and avoiding unexpected file attachments. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving application layer attacks and privilege escalation through software exploitation, making it a significant concern for organizations implementing comprehensive security frameworks that address both defensive and offensive cybersecurity measures.