CVE-2010-3231 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Excel 2002 SP3, Office 2004 and 2008 for Mac, and Open XML File Format Converter for Mac do not properly validate record information, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted Excel document, aka "Excel Record Parsing Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Excel's handling of structured data records within spreadsheet files. The issue stems from insufficient validation of record headers and metadata during the parsing process of excel documents, creating opportunities for malicious actors to craft specially designed files that trigger buffer overflows or memory corruption conditions. The vulnerability affects multiple versions including Excel 2002 SP3, Office 2004 and 2008 for Mac, as well as the Open XML File Format Converter for Mac, indicating a widespread impact across Microsoft's spreadsheet applications. The flaw operates at the core parsing layer where Excel processes internal record structures, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through normal document opening procedures without requiring special privileges or user interaction beyond opening the malicious file.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when Excel encounters malformed record information within a crafted Excel document, specifically in how the application handles the parsing of structured data elements. Attackers can construct malicious files that contain specially crafted record headers and metadata that, when processed by Excel's parser, cause memory corruption conditions. This typically manifests as buffer overflows or heap corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application. The vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues, specifically aligning with CWE-121 which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125 which covers out-of-bounds read conditions. These memory corruption vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can lead to complete system compromise when exploited through the application's execution flow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to potentially enable full system compromise and persistent access within affected environments. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on target systems, potentially enabling them to install malware, establish backdoors, or perform data exfiltration. The attack vector requires only that a user open a malicious Excel file, making it particularly dangerous in corporate environments where users frequently open documents from external sources or email attachments. The vulnerability's presence across multiple Microsoft Office versions and platforms increases its attack surface, as organizations cannot simply update one application to mitigate the risk. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which describes execution through command and scripting interpreters, and T1203 which covers exploitation for privilege escalation through memory corruption.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected systems with Microsoft security updates, as well as implementation of additional defensive measures to reduce attack surface. Organizations should deploy application whitelisting solutions to restrict execution of unauthorized Excel processes and implement strict file validation procedures for incoming documents. Network-based defenses such as email filtering and web proxy configurations should be enhanced to prevent delivery of malicious Excel files through common attack channels. Regular security awareness training for users helps reduce the risk of accidental exploitation through social engineering attacks that rely on users opening malicious documents. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in office applications, as highlighted by industry standards and best practices for secure coding. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to identify related attack patterns and emerging threats targeting similar vulnerabilities.