CVE-2011-0092 in Visio
Summary
by MITRE
The LZW stream decompression functionality in ORMELEMS.DLL in Microsoft Visio 2002 SP2, 2003 SP3, and 2007 SP2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a Visio file with a malformed VisioDocument stream that triggers an exception handler that accesses an object that has not been fully initialized, which triggers memory corruption, aka "Visio Object Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0092 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the LZW decompression implementation of ORMELEMS.DLL component in Microsoft Visio versions 2002 SP2, 2003 SP3, and 2007 SP2. This vulnerability resides in the handling of Visio file streams, specifically when processing malformed VisioDocument streams that contain improperly structured LZW compressed data. The flaw manifests during the decompression process where the system encounters an exception handler that attempts to access an object which has not been fully initialized, creating a dangerous memory corruption scenario that can be exploited by remote attackers.
The technical execution of this vulnerability follows a precise sequence of events that begins with the delivery of a specially crafted Visio file containing malformed stream data. When Visio attempts to decompress this data using its LZW decompression engine, the process encounters an unexpected condition that triggers an exception handler. This exception handler subsequently accesses an uninitialized object pointer, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user. The vulnerability falls under CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereferences and improper object initialization scenarios, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered without user interaction when opening malicious Visio files.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to enterprise environments where Visio documents are frequently shared and opened. Attackers can craft malicious Visio files that, when opened by vulnerable systems, will automatically trigger the memory corruption exploit. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially allow full system compromise, especially when users open these documents in a corporate environment where Visio is commonly used for diagramming and design work. The vulnerability affects users across multiple Visio versions, making it particularly widespread and difficult to fully mitigate without comprehensive patching across all affected systems.
The attack vector for CVE-2011-0092 aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which focuses on exploitation of remote services and document processing vulnerabilities. This vulnerability can be effectively exploited through social engineering campaigns where attackers send malicious Visio files as email attachments or host them on compromised websites. The exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond opening the document, making it particularly effective in phishing campaigns targeting business users who regularly handle Visio documents. Organizations should consider implementing email filtering rules that block Visio files from untrusted sources and establish secure document handling procedures that include thorough scanning before opening any Visio content.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must include immediate patching of all affected Visio versions with the corresponding Microsoft security updates. System administrators should also implement network-based controls that block access to potentially malicious Visio file types and establish user education programs to raise awareness about the risks of opening untrusted Visio documents. Additionally, organizations should consider deploying application whitelisting solutions that restrict execution of Visio applications to trusted environments only, particularly in high-risk scenarios where users may encounter untrusted Visio files. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management and exception handling in document processing components, highlighting the need for robust input validation and object initialization procedures in enterprise software applications.