CVE-2010-0031 in PowerPoint
Summary
by MITRE
Array index error in Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2002 SP3 and 2003 SP3, and PowerPoint in Office 2004 for Mac, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted PowerPoint document, aka "PowerPoint OEPlaceholderAtom 'placementId' Invalid Array Indexing Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/30/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-0031 represents a critical array index error affecting multiple versions of Microsoft Office PowerPoint software including PowerPoint 2002 SP3, 2003 SP3, and Office 2004 for Mac. This flaw resides in the handling of PowerPoint presentation files and specifically involves the OEPlaceholderAtom placementId parameter which governs how placeholders are positioned within slide objects. The vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking during the parsing of presentation files, creating a condition where an attacker can manipulate the placementId field to trigger invalid array indexing operations. According to CWE-129, this corresponds to an implementation flaw where insufficient validation of array indices leads to memory corruption vulnerabilities. The flaw operates at the file parsing layer of PowerPoint's document processing engine, where the software fails to properly validate the range of indices used when accessing placeholder objects within presentation files.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote code execution when victims open maliciously crafted PowerPoint documents. Attackers can construct specially formatted .ppt files that contain malformed placementId values which, when processed by vulnerable PowerPoint versions, cause the application to access memory locations outside the bounds of allocated arrays. This memory corruption can be exploited to overwrite critical program execution data such as return addresses or function pointers, ultimately allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running PowerPoint. The vulnerability specifically aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which describes the exploitation of software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code. The attack requires no user interaction beyond opening the malicious file, making it particularly dangerous for targeted attacks against corporate or individual users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor parsing flaws can lead to complete system compromise. When PowerPoint encounters a crafted document, the malformed OEPlaceholderAtom structure triggers an array indexing operation that accesses memory beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This memory corruption can be leveraged through various exploit techniques including stack-based buffer overflows or heap corruption methods. The vulnerability affects not only desktop versions but also the Mac OS implementation, indicating a systemic issue within the PowerPoint parsing architecture that spans multiple platforms. Organizations should note that this vulnerability was particularly concerning given the widespread use of PowerPoint in business environments and the ease with which malicious presentations could be distributed via email attachments, web downloads, or removable media. The flaw represents a classic example of how input validation failures in document processing software can create persistent security risks requiring immediate patching and user awareness measures.
Microsoft addressed this vulnerability through security updates released in March 2010 as part of their regular patching cycle. The fix involved implementing proper bounds checking for the placementId parameter within the OEPlaceholderAtom structure, ensuring that array access operations remain within valid memory boundaries. Organizations should have implemented these patches promptly and established procedures for regular security updates to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of validating all input data in document processing applications and demonstrates how even legacy software versions can contain exploitable flaws that require continuous security monitoring and patch management processes.