CVE-2010-3230 in Excel
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in Microsoft Excel 2002 SP3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an Excel document with crafted record information, aka "Excel Record Parsing Integer Overflow Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2021
The CVE-2010-3230 vulnerability represents a critical integer overflow flaw in Microsoft Excel 2002 Service Pack 3 that enables remote code execution through maliciously crafted Excel documents. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which occurs when an integer value exceeds its maximum limit and wraps around to a smaller value, creating unexpected behavior in the application's memory management. The flaw specifically manifests during the parsing of Excel record structures where the application fails to properly validate the size parameters of various record types, leading to a scenario where attacker-controlled data can cause arithmetic overflow conditions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious Excel document contains specially crafted record information that triggers the integer overflow during the parsing process. When Excel attempts to allocate memory based on the malformed record size values, the overflow causes the application to allocate insufficient memory or corrupt existing memory structures. This memory corruption can then be leveraged by attackers to overwrite critical memory locations with malicious code, ultimately allowing remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system with the privileges of the user running Excel. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through simple file opening operations, making it an ideal candidate for phishing attacks and drive-by downloads.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-3230 extends beyond immediate code execution capabilities to encompass broader system compromise and data exfiltration risks. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to compromised systems, deploy additional malware payloads, or escalate privileges within the network environment. The vulnerability affects Microsoft Excel 2002 SP3 specifically, but similar issues may exist in other versions of the Office suite that share the same underlying parsing logic. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability maps to the ATT&CK technique T1059.005 for command and script interpreter, and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as the initial code execution can be followed by further exploitation phases.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-3230 should focus on both immediate patching and operational security measures. Microsoft released security updates that address the integer overflow by implementing proper input validation and size parameter checking during Excel record parsing. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of the relevant security patches and ensure that all users have the latest service packs installed. Additionally, implementing defensive measures such as restricting Excel file execution in email attachments, disabling automatic execution of macros, and employing application whitelisting solutions can significantly reduce the attack surface. Network-based protections including email filtering, web application firewalls, and content inspection systems should be configured to detect and block malicious Excel documents containing the specific malformed record structures that trigger this vulnerability. The remediation process should also include user education to avoid opening suspicious Excel files and regular security assessments to identify potentially unpatched systems within the organization's infrastructure.