CVE-2010-3949 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the TIFF image converter in the graphics filters in Microsoft Office XP SP3 and Office Converter Pack allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted TIFF image in an Office document, aka "TIFF Image Converter Buffer Overflow Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3949 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the TIFF image converter component of Microsoft Office XP Service Pack 3 and the Office Converter Pack. This security weakness resides in the graphics filters subsystem that processes TIFF image formats when documents containing such images are opened or converted within the Office environment. The flaw specifically affects the handling of malformed TIFF image data during the conversion process, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to exploit the vulnerability through crafted image files embedded in Office documents.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking within the TIFF image processing code. When Microsoft Office attempts to convert or render a TIFF image, the application fails to properly validate the size and structure of the image data, allowing an attacker to craft a specially designed TIFF file that exceeds the allocated buffer space. This buffer overflow condition occurs during the parsing of image headers and metadata, where the application writes data beyond the intended memory boundaries. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which provides attackers with the ability to overwrite adjacent memory locations and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it provides attackers with a sophisticated attack vector that can be leveraged through social engineering campaigns targeting Office document recipients. The attack requires the victim to open a malicious Office document containing the crafted TIFF image, making it particularly dangerous in phishing scenarios where documents are disguised as legitimate business communications. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, which all utilize the same underlying graphics filter components for image processing. This widespread impact increases the potential attack surface and makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to compromise enterprise networks.
Security researchers have mapped this vulnerability to the ATT&CK framework under the technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, which describes how adversaries exploit software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on victim systems. The vulnerability also aligns with T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, as successful exploitation typically involves the execution of malicious code that can establish command and control capabilities. Microsoft addressed this vulnerability through the release of security updates that implemented proper bounds checking and memory management within the TIFF processing components. Organizations should prioritize patch management to mitigate this risk, as the vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild during the period following its disclosure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in graphics processing libraries and highlights the need for robust memory safety mechanisms in office productivity software. Given the widespread deployment of Office XP and the Office Converter Pack, the vulnerability posed a significant risk to enterprise environments where legacy systems remained operational, emphasizing the critical nature of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all software components.