CVE-2008-3014 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in gdiplus.dll in GDI+ in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 SP1, Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Server 2003 SP1 and SP2, Vista Gold and SP1, Server 2008, Office XP SP3, Office 2003 SP2 and SP3, 2007 Microsoft Office System Gold and SP1, Visio 2002 SP2, PowerPoint Viewer 2003, Works 8, Digital Image Suite 2006, SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services SP2, SQL Server 2005 SP2, Report Viewer 2005 SP1 and 2008, and Forefront Client Security 1.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a malformed WMF image file that triggers improper memory allocation, aka "GDI+ WMF Buffer Overrun Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2019
The CVE-2008-3014 vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Graphics Device Interface Plus component of Microsoft Windows operating systems and Office applications. This vulnerability specifically affects the gdiplus.dll library which handles graphics processing operations including the parsing of Windows Metafile (WMF) image formats. The flaw occurs when Internet Explorer processes malformed WMF images, triggering improper memory allocation that allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious code. This vulnerability spans across multiple Microsoft products and operating system versions, making it particularly dangerous as it affects both client and server environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the GDI+ WMF parsing routine. When a WMF image file is processed, the application fails to properly validate the size and structure of the metafile data before attempting to allocate memory for processing. This allows an attacker to craft a specially formatted WMF file that, when loaded by Internet Explorer, causes the application to allocate insufficient memory for the image data. The subsequent overflow enables arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable application. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, though the actual mechanism involves heap corruption due to improper memory management in the graphics subsystem.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities across multiple Microsoft platforms. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through web-based attacks by hosting malicious WMF images on compromised websites or through email attachments that trigger automatic processing when viewed in Internet Explorer. The vulnerability affects not just the browser but also numerous Microsoft Office applications that utilize the GDI+ library for image rendering, including PowerPoint Viewer, Visio, and various Microsoft Office versions. The widespread nature of affected products means that successful exploitation can occur in enterprise environments where multiple vulnerable applications exist, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges and move laterally within networks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter execution, as successful exploitation typically results in arbitrary code execution that can be used to establish persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3014 focus primarily on patch management and application hardening measures. Microsoft released security updates that addressed the buffer overflow in GDI+ through proper bounds checking and memory allocation validation. Organizations should implement immediate patch deployment across all affected systems including Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP1 and SP2, Vista, Server 2008, and all supported Office applications. Additional defensive measures include disabling automatic image processing in web browsers, implementing content filtering solutions that block WMF files, and employing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of potentially vulnerable applications. Network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious file downloads can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management in graphics processing libraries, highlighting how seemingly benign image format handling can lead to critical system compromise. Security professionals should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for web browsing activities and regularly review application compatibility with security updates to prevent regression issues.