CVE-2010-0824 in Excel
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Microsoft Office Excel 2002 SP3 and Office 2004 for Mac allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an Excel file with a malformed WOPT (0x80B) record, aka "Excel Record Memory Corruption Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2010-0821 and CVE-2010-1245.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2021
This vulnerability resides within Microsoft Office Excel 2002 SP3 and Office 2004 for Mac applications, representing a critical memory corruption flaw that enables remote code execution through specially crafted Excel files. The vulnerability specifically targets the handling of malformed WOPT records with the identifier 0x80B, which are part of the Excel file format's internal structure. When these applications process such malformed records during file parsing, they fail to properly validate the data structure, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. These classifications indicate that the flaw occurs when the application attempts to access memory locations beyond the intended bounds, either through reading beyond allocated memory or writing beyond valid buffer limits. The vulnerability represents a classic buffer overflow scenario where the application's memory management fails to properly handle malformed data structures, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to organizations relying on legacy Office versions, particularly those running Office 2002 SP3 or Office 2004 for Mac. Attackers can craft malicious Excel files containing the malformed WOPT record that triggers the memory corruption when opened by vulnerable applications. The exploitation process typically involves sending the malicious file via email attachments, web downloads, or other social engineering tactics, with the successful exploitation resulting in full system compromise. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of remote services, and T1059, covering command and scripting interpreter usage, as attackers can leverage the executed code to establish persistence and escalate privileges.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate code execution capabilities, as it can enable attackers to install backdoors, modify system files, and potentially gain access to sensitive data. Organizations using these legacy applications face particular risk since they may not receive regular security updates, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. The vulnerability's classification as a different issue from CVE-2010-0821 and CVE-2010-1245 indicates that while related, it represents a distinct memory corruption mechanism that requires separate mitigation approaches. Network administrators should implement strict file validation policies, disable automatic opening of Excel files from untrusted sources, and ensure users are trained to recognize potentially malicious attachments.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches where available, though legacy systems may not receive updates. Organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unauthorized Office applications, deploy email filtering solutions that scan for suspicious file attachments, and establish robust endpoint protection measures. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening Excel files from unknown sources, and organizations should maintain updated inventory of all Office installations to identify and remediate vulnerable systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges of supporting legacy software in enterprise environments where upgrading to newer Office versions may not be immediately feasible due to compatibility requirements.