CVE-2010-2748 in Word
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Word 2002 SP3 and Office 2004 for Mac do not properly check an unspecified boundary during parsing of a Word document, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted document that triggers memory corruption, aka "Word Boundary Check Vulnerability."
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2021
The CVE-2010-2748 vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Word 2002 SP3 and Office 2004 for Mac applications. This vulnerability stems from an insufficient boundary check during the parsing process of Word documents, creating a condition where maliciously crafted documents can trigger unauthorized code execution. The flaw specifically affects the document parsing engine's handling of memory boundaries when processing malformed or specially constructed Word files, making it a prime target for remote exploitation. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 category of "Improper Validation of Array Index" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code through document-based attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when Word processes a specially crafted document that contains malformed data structures or incorrect memory references. During document parsing, the application fails to validate the boundaries of memory allocations or array accesses, allowing an attacker to manipulate memory layout through carefully constructed input. This memory corruption can lead to stack overflow conditions or heap corruption that can be leveraged to execute malicious code with the privileges of the victim user. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers can deliver malicious documents via email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites without requiring local access to the target system.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-2748 extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a significant threat to enterprise security environments where Microsoft Office applications are widely deployed. Organizations running affected versions of Word 2002 SP3 and Office 2004 for Mac face potential compromise through social engineering campaigns targeting document attachments. The vulnerability can be exploited in various attack scenarios including phishing campaigns, drive-by downloads, and targeted attacks against specific user groups. Given that these versions of Microsoft Office were commonly used in business environments, the potential for widespread exploitation was considerable. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in document processing applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-2748 should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches and updates, as well as implementation of defensive measures such as email filtering, document validation, and user education regarding suspicious attachments. Organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted Office documents, while also monitoring for suspicious document-related network traffic. The vulnerability highlights the need for robust boundary checking mechanisms in document parsing libraries and emphasizes the importance of regular security updates. Additionally, network segmentation and endpoint protection solutions should be configured to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability can be leveraged in combination with other attack vectors to achieve persistent access to target systems.