CVE-2010-5208 in Office 2010
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple untrusted search path vulnerabilities in the (1) Presentation, (2) Writer, and (3) Spreadsheets components in Kingsoft Office 2010 6.6.0.2477 allow local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse plgpf.dll file in the current working directory, as demonstrated by a directory that contains a .xls, .ppt, .rtf, or .doc file. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-5208 represents a critical privilege escalation issue affecting Kingsoft Office 2010 versions up to 6.6.0.2477. This security flaw manifests across three core components of the office suite including Presentation, Writer, and Spreadsheets, creating a widespread attack surface for malicious actors. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of dynamic library loading mechanisms within these applications, specifically when processing office document files such as .xls, .ppt, .rtf, and .doc formats. When users open these files, the applications attempt to load additional plugins or libraries from the current working directory without proper validation of the library source or authenticity. This behavior creates a dangerous condition where a local attacker can place a malicious plgpf.dll file in the same directory as an office document, effectively tricking the application into executing arbitrary code with the privileges of the user who opened the document.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-426, which describes Untrusted Search Path vulnerabilities where applications search for libraries or executables in directories that can be manipulated by attackers. The attack vector specifically exploits the Windows dynamic link library loading mechanism, where applications first search the current working directory before examining system directories. This design flaw allows attackers to place malicious DLL files in the same directory as target documents, bypassing normal security controls. The vulnerability operates under the principle that applications trust the first library they find in their search path, regardless of whether it originates from a legitimate source. This weakness creates a fundamental trust model failure in the application's library loading process, making it susceptible to various forms of code injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential system compromise and data theft. When a local user opens a maliciously crafted office document, the system executes the attacker-controlled plgpf.dll file, potentially leading to full system compromise depending on the user's privileges. The attack requires minimal user interaction beyond opening a document, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently open office documents from untrusted sources. The vulnerability affects all Windows versions that support Kingsoft Office 2010, creating a broad attack surface across enterprise and personal computing environments. Security researchers have noted that this type of vulnerability often serves as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, as it can be combined with other exploitation techniques to achieve persistent access or escalate privileges further.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-5208 should focus on both immediate protective measures and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations should implement strict file access controls and disable automatic execution of plugins or libraries from user directories. System administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict which DLL files can be loaded by office applications. The recommended approach includes configuring applications to search system directories first before checking the current working directory, and implementing proper DLL validation mechanisms. Security professionals should also consider deploying behavioral monitoring systems that can detect suspicious library loading patterns and alert on potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, users should be educated about the dangers of opening documents from untrusted sources, and organizations should establish robust patch management processes to ensure timely updates of office suite applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Guidelines, specifically addressing library loading and search path security issues. Organizations should also consider implementing the ATT&CK framework's T1059.001 technique for detecting and preventing malicious code execution through dynamic library loading, as this vulnerability directly enables such attack patterns.