CVE-2008-3015 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in gdiplus.dll in GDI+ in Microsoft 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 BMP image file with a malformed BitMapInfoHeader that triggers a buffer overflow, aka "GDI+ BMP Integer Overflow Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2024
The CVE-2008-3015 vulnerability represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the Graphics Device Interface Plus component of Microsoft Office and related products. This vulnerability exists in the gdiplus.dll library which processes bitmap image files, specifically when handling the BitMapInfoHeader structure within BMP image formats. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly validate integer values during bitmap processing, leading to an overflow condition that can be exploited to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This vulnerability affects a broad range of Microsoft products including Office XP SP3 through Office 2007, Visio 2002, PowerPoint Viewer 2003, Works 8, Digital Image Suite 2006, and various SQL Server reporting components, making it particularly dangerous due to its widespread presence across Microsoft's ecosystem.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting a malicious BMP image file with a malformed BitMapInfoHeader structure that contains integer values large enough to cause arithmetic overflow when processed by the vulnerable GDI+ component. When a user opens or previews such an image file, the integer overflow corrupts memory boundaries and can lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected application. The vulnerability maps to CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, representing exploitation of software vulnerabilities through crafted input files. The overflow typically manifests when the application attempts to allocate memory based on malformed dimensions specified in the BMP header, causing the system to allocate insufficient memory while the processing logic attempts to write beyond these boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond individual system compromise to encompass enterprise-wide risks due to the prevalence of affected Microsoft products across corporate environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites that deliver crafted BMP files. The vulnerability's remote execution capability means that users need not interact directly with malicious content for exploitation to occur, as many applications automatically preview images. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently open email attachments or browse untrusted websites. The vulnerability also presents significant challenges for security teams due to the difficulty in detecting and patching across the wide range of affected products, many of which may be running on legacy systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3015 should focus on immediate patch application and operational controls. Microsoft released security updates for all affected versions of Office, SQL Server, and related products, which should be deployed immediately across all systems. Organizations should implement content filtering measures to block BMP image files from untrusted sources and consider disabling automatic image preview functionality in email clients. Network-based protections such as intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for patterns associated with malicious BMP file delivery. Additionally, security awareness training should emphasize the dangers of opening unexpected image files, particularly in email contexts. System hardening measures including application whitelisting, sandboxing of image processing applications, and regular security assessments can provide additional layers of protection. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and integer overflow protection in software development practices, aligning with security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and Microsoft's own security development lifecycle guidelines.