CVE-2008-1089 in Visio
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Microsoft Visio 2002 SP2, 2003 SP2 and SP3, and 2007 up to SP1 allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a Visio file containing crafted object header data, aka "Visio Object Header Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1089 represents a critical security flaw affecting multiple versions of Microsoft Visio software including Visio 2002 SP2, 2003 SP2 and SP3, and Visio 2007 up to SP1. This vulnerability falls under the category of unspecified vulnerability type, indicating that the specific technical mechanism behind the flaw was not fully disclosed in the initial CVE description. The vulnerability specifically relates to how Visio handles object header data within Visio files, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by remote attackers with user assistance. According to the Microsoft security advisory, this issue creates a condition where maliciously crafted Visio files can trigger arbitrary code execution when opened by vulnerable software versions.
The technical flaw manifests through improper validation of object header data within Visio file formats. When a user opens a specially crafted Visio file containing malicious object headers, the software's parsing mechanism fails to properly validate the structure and content of these headers. This validation failure creates a buffer overflow or similar memory corruption vulnerability that attackers can exploit to inject and execute arbitrary code on the target system. The vulnerability requires user interaction to be successful, meaning that an attacker must convince a user to open the malicious Visio file, typically through social engineering techniques such as phishing emails or malicious attachments. The attack vector specifically targets the file parsing and object handling components of Visio, which are responsible for interpreting and rendering the various elements within Visio documents.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with a potential path to achieve remote code execution on systems running vulnerable Visio versions. Once executed, the malicious code could allow attackers to gain full control over the affected system, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, or further network infiltration. The user-assisted nature of the attack means that successful exploitation requires human interaction, but this does not diminish the severity of the threat as social engineering remains a prevalent and effective attack method. Organizations using Visio for business documentation and diagramming are particularly at risk, as Visio files are commonly shared between users and departments, creating numerous potential entry points for attackers. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Visio versions, making it particularly dangerous as many organizations may have legacy systems running older software versions that are not regularly updated.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1089 should focus on both immediate protective measures and long-term remediation efforts. Microsoft released security patches and updates to address this vulnerability, and organizations should immediately deploy these updates to all affected systems. System administrators should also implement restrictive file handling policies, particularly for Visio files received from external sources or untrusted networks. Network-based protections such as email filtering and file content inspection can help prevent malicious Visio files from reaching end users. Additionally, user education and awareness programs should be implemented to train staff on recognizing potentially malicious files and understanding the risks associated with opening unknown Visio documents. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and may also relate to CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds write conditions, depending on the specific implementation details. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving social engineering and execution through malicious file attachments, specifically T1059.007 for command and script interpreter and T1566 for phishing techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and restricting the execution of Visio files from untrusted sources to minimize the attack surface.