CVE-2010-3333 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office XP SP3, Office 2003 SP3, Office 2007 SP2, Office 2010, Office 2004 and 2008 for Mac, Office for Mac 2011, and Open XML File Format Converter for Mac allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted RTF data, aka "RTF Stack Buffer Overflow Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2026
The CVE-2010-3333 vulnerability represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw affecting multiple versions of Microsoft Office across different platforms including Windows and Mac operating systems. This vulnerability specifically targets the RTF (Rich Text Format) parsing functionality within Microsoft Office applications, making it particularly dangerous as RTF files are commonly used for document exchange and communication. The flaw exists in the way Office applications process RTF data structures, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overflow stack memory buffers with maliciously crafted data. The vulnerability impacts Office XP SP3 through Office 2010 on Windows, Office 2004 and 2008 for Mac, Office for Mac 2011, and the Open XML File Format Converter for Mac, indicating a widespread exposure across Microsoft's Office product line. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which falls under the broader category of memory safety issues that have been a persistent concern in software development practices. The ATT&CK framework would classify this vulnerability under T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it represents an attack vector that targets widely deployed office applications accessible through network channels.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when Microsoft Office applications attempt to parse RTF documents containing maliciously constructed data structures. During the parsing process, the application allocates stack memory for processing RTF elements but fails to properly validate the size of incoming data before copying it into these buffers. When an attacker crafts RTF data that exceeds the allocated buffer size, the excess data overflows into adjacent stack memory locations, potentially overwriting return addresses, function pointers, or other critical control data. This overflow can be exploited to redirect program execution flow to malicious code injected into the buffer, enabling remote code execution. The vulnerability is particularly insidious because RTF files are commonly received as email attachments or downloaded from web sites, making exploitation occur through typical user interaction patterns that are difficult to monitor or prevent. The stack-based nature of the overflow means that the attack can overwrite the return address of the calling function, allowing an attacker to control the instruction pointer and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application process.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-3333 is significant and far-reaching across enterprise environments where Microsoft Office is extensively deployed. Organizations running affected Office versions face a high risk of compromise when users receive malicious RTF files through email, web downloads, or file sharing mechanisms. The vulnerability's exploitation capability allows attackers to gain complete control over affected systems, potentially leading to data theft, system infiltration, or deployment of additional malware. The widespread availability of Office across different platforms and versions means that organizations must implement comprehensive patch management strategies to address the vulnerability. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations with legacy systems still running Office XP or Office 2003, as these versions are no longer supported with security updates, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. The impact extends beyond individual system compromise to potential network-wide infiltration, as attackers can use the initial foothold to pivot through internal networks and target additional systems. Security teams must consider this vulnerability as part of their threat modeling exercises, particularly in environments where users regularly interact with external email sources or download files from untrusted websites.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-3333 should encompass both immediate defensive measures and long-term remediation approaches. Microsoft recommends applying the official security patches released for affected Office versions, which address the buffer overflow by implementing proper bounds checking and input validation. Organizations should also implement email filtering solutions that can identify and block RTF attachments from untrusted sources, as well as disable RTF file handling in Office applications when possible. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by running Office applications with reduced privileges, limiting the damage that can occur if exploitation succeeds. Network segmentation and intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts by monitoring for unusual RTF file processing patterns or network connections originating from compromised Office applications. Security awareness training for users is crucial to prevent social engineering attacks that rely on tricking users into opening malicious RTF files. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of Office applications to known good configurations, and regularly audit their Office deployment to ensure all systems are updated with the latest security patches. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing layered security controls to protect against memory corruption vulnerabilities that can lead to complete system compromise.