CVE-2007-6357 in Access
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Access allows remote, user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted Microsoft Access Database (.mdb) file. NOTE: due to the lack of details as of 20071210, it is not clear whether this issue is the same as CVE-2007-6026 or CVE-2005-0944.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2017
This vulnerability represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw in Microsoft Office Access software that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code when users open specially crafted Microsoft Access Database files with the .mdb extension. The vulnerability operates through a user-assisted attack vector, meaning that successful exploitation requires user interaction with a malicious database file, typically through social engineering or phishing techniques. The flaw resides in the way Access processes database files, specifically in the handling of memory allocation during database parsing operations. When an attacker crafts a malicious .mdb file with oversized data structures or malformed records, the software's stack memory management fails to properly validate input boundaries, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to overwrite return addresses and execute malicious code. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration category CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass full system compromise when successful. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to affected systems, potentially escalating privileges to system level or higher depending on the execution context. The vulnerability affects Microsoft Office Access installations across multiple versions, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Access databases are commonly used for data storage and application development. The remote nature of the attack means that malicious actors can exploit this vulnerability without requiring physical access to target systems, making it a significant threat in networked environments. The fact that exploitation requires user interaction limits the automated nature of attacks but does not eliminate the threat, as social engineering remains a persistent challenge in cybersecurity. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to the technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation and system access. The vulnerability's classification as user-assisted also aligns with T1566, which covers social engineering tactics that manipulate users into executing malicious actions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass both immediate and long-term security measures. Microsoft released patches and updates to address this issue, and organizations must ensure all Office Access installations are updated with the latest security patches. Network administrators should implement strict file validation policies that prevent execution of untrusted database files, particularly in enterprise environments where access to such files might be limited. The principle of least privilege should be enforced, ensuring that users have minimal necessary permissions when accessing database files. Additional protective measures include deploying application whitelisting solutions that restrict execution of unauthorized software, implementing email filtering systems that identify suspicious attachments, and conducting regular security awareness training for users to recognize potential social engineering attempts. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to limit lateral movement if an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability. The vulnerability's nature as a buffer overflow also suggests that memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and data execution prevention should be enabled on affected systems to make exploitation more difficult. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in database processing applications.