CVE-2007-6329 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Office 2007 12.0.6015.5000 and MSO 12.0.6017.5000 do not sign the metadata of Office Open XML (OOXML) documents, which makes it easier for remote attackers to modify Dublin Core metadata fields, as demonstrated by the (1) LastModifiedBy and (2) creator fields in docProps/core.xml in the OOXML ZIP container.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-6329 represents a significant security flaw in Microsoft Office 2007 and related components where the software fails to properly sign metadata within Office Open XML documents. This weakness specifically affects versions 12.0.6015.5000 and 12.0.6017.5000 of Office and MSO respectively, creating an exploitable condition that undermines document integrity and authenticity. The vulnerability stems from the absence of cryptographic signatures on metadata fields within OOXML documents, which are stored in the docProps/core.xml file within the ZIP container structure of these documents.
The technical implementation of this flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate Dublin Core metadata fields without detection, particularly targeting the LastModifiedBy and creator fields that are critical for document provenance tracking. This vulnerability falls under the category of insufficient validation of digital signatures as classified by CWE-347, where the system fails to properly verify the authenticity and integrity of metadata components. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates at the document level rather than at the application level, making it difficult to detect through traditional security monitoring approaches. The OOXML format's ZIP container structure provides an accessible attack surface where metadata can be modified without breaking the document's structural integrity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple metadata manipulation to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks involving document tampering and integrity compromise. Attackers can exploit this weakness to create false attribution for documents, making it appear as though they were created or modified by unauthorized parties. This capability undermines trust in document metadata and can be leveraged in social engineering campaigns, forensic investigations, and corporate security environments where document provenance is critical. The vulnerability directly impacts the security controls defined in the NIST SP 800-53 security framework, particularly those related to integrity protection and authentication mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-6329 should focus on implementing comprehensive document integrity monitoring and establishing strict access controls for document creation and modification processes. Organizations should consider deploying digital signature verification tools and implementing document lifecycle management policies that require verification of metadata authenticity. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566 - Phishing and T1550 - Use of stolen credentials, as attackers can leverage this weakness to create convincing fraudulent documents. Additionally, system administrators should ensure that all Office installations are updated to versions that properly implement metadata signing, and consider implementing network-level controls to monitor for suspicious metadata modifications in document exchanges. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in ISO/IEC 27034, particularly in the area of data integrity protection and authentication mechanisms within document processing applications.