CVE-2008-0102 in Publisher
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Microsoft Office Publisher 2000, 2002, and 2003 SP2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted .pub file, related to invalid "memory values," aka "Publisher Invalid Memory Reference Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2019
The CVE-2008-0102 vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting Microsoft Office Publisher versions 2000, 2002, and 2003 SP2. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory safety issues that have historically plagued Microsoft Office applications and constitutes a classic buffer overflow scenario where invalid memory references can lead to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability specifically manifests when Publisher processes maliciously crafted .pub files that contain malformed memory values, creating opportunities for remote code execution attacks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within Publisher's file parsing routines, where the application fails to adequately validate memory references when processing structured data within .pub files. This flaw aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. The vulnerability occurs during the parsing of embedded objects or metadata within Publisher documents, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to manipulate memory pointers or buffer sizes to overwrite critical memory regions. Attackers can exploit this by crafting specially designed .pub files that trigger memory corruption when opened by vulnerable versions of Publisher, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-0102 is significant for organizations utilizing legacy Publisher versions, as it enables remote code execution without requiring user interaction beyond opening the malicious document. This vulnerability maps directly to ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for execution through malicious document files, and T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage. The attack vector typically involves social engineering campaigns where users receive malicious .pub files through email attachments or compromised websites, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where legacy Office applications may still be in use. Successful exploitation can result in full system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistence mechanisms being established within the target environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected Publisher versions, as Microsoft released security updates addressing this specific memory corruption issue. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies that prevent execution of untrusted .pub files, deploy email filtering solutions to block suspicious attachments, and maintain up-to-date antivirus signatures that can detect malicious Publisher files. Additionally, network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining current Office application versions and implementing comprehensive vulnerability management programs that address legacy software support gaps, as this particular flaw demonstrates how outdated applications continue to pose significant security risks even years after their initial release.