CVE-2007-1910 in Word
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in wwlib.dll in Microsoft Word 2007 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted document, as demonstrated by file789-1.doc.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1910 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the wwlib.dll component of Microsoft Word 2007. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms when processing specially crafted document files, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the software's memory management routines. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the affected application attempts to handle malformed data structures within document files, leading to unpredictable memory corruption patterns that can result in application instability or complete system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of document parsing routines within the wwlib.dll library, which serves as a core component for Word's document processing capabilities. When a malicious document containing crafted buffer overflow payloads is opened, the application's failure to properly validate input lengths and boundaries causes memory corruption that can be leveraged to redirect execution flow. This particular flaw falls under the CWE-121 buffer overflow category, which specifically addresses unsafe memory operations where data written to a buffer exceeds the buffer's allocated size, potentially overwriting adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of the vulnerable application.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-1910 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass potential system compromise and unauthorized code execution. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to cause application crashes, leading to service disruption, or more critically, execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected user. The demonstration using file789-1.doc illustrates how seemingly innocuous document attachments can serve as attack vectors, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently open documents from untrusted sources. The exploitability of this flaw increases significantly in targeted attacks where social engineering techniques are employed to deliver malicious documents to unsuspecting users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate protection and long-term security posture improvements. Microsoft released security patches for this vulnerability through regular updates, and organizations should implement timely patch management procedures to remediate affected systems. Network-based defenses including email filtering and web application firewalls can help prevent delivery of malicious documents to end users, while application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques can limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and memory safety practices in software development, emphasizing the need for developers to follow secure coding guidelines such as those outlined in the CERT Secure Coding Standards. Additionally, user education regarding suspicious document attachments and the implementation of security awareness programs can significantly reduce the risk of successful exploitation in real-world scenarios.