CVE-2007-1747 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in MSO.dll in Microsoft Office 2000 SP3, 2002 SP3, 2003 SP2, 2004 for Mac, and 2007 allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a malformed drawing object, which triggers memory corruption.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1747 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the MSO.dll component of Microsoft Office suite versions including Office 2000 SP3, 2002 SP3, 2003 SP2, 2004 for Mac, and 2007. This issue resides in the drawing object handling mechanism that processes various graphic elements within Office documents. The flaw manifests when Office encounters malformed drawing objects that are carefully crafted to exploit memory management weaknesses in the MSO.dll library. Such vulnerabilities typically arise from insufficient input validation and memory boundary checking during the parsing of complex graphic formats. The vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions, both of which are common in graphics processing libraries where buffer overflows can occur during object rendering.
The attack vector for this vulnerability requires user interaction, making it a user-assisted remote code execution flaw. An attacker must convince a victim to open a specially crafted document containing the malformed drawing object, which then triggers the memory corruption when Office attempts to render or process the graphics. The exploitation process involves manipulating the memory layout through improper handling of drawing object structures, potentially allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the targeted user. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Office documents are frequently shared and opened by multiple users, as it can serve as an initial compromise vector for more extensive attacks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability impacts organizations that continue to use legacy Office versions, particularly those running Office 2003 SP2 or earlier on Windows systems, as well as Mac users with Office 2004 for Mac. The memory corruption typically results in application crashes or, more critically, allows for code execution that could enable privilege escalation or data exfiltration. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as successful exploitation could lead to execution of malicious code through the compromised Office application. Organizations using these older Office versions face significant risk due to the lack of modern exploit mitigations such as address space layout randomization, data execution prevention, and other security features that were introduced in later Office releases.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-1747 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Office versions with the appropriate security updates from Microsoft. Organizations should implement strict document filtering policies that prevent opening of untrusted Office documents, particularly those from external sources or unfamiliar senders. Network-level controls such as email filtering and web content filtering should be enhanced to block potentially malicious Office documents. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of Office applications in high-risk environments can provide defense-in-depth. System hardening measures including disabling unnecessary Office features, implementing user access controls, and deploying intrusion detection systems can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's nature makes it particularly susceptible to exploitation through social engineering campaigns targeting specific user groups, making user security awareness training essential for comprehensive protection against such threats.