CVE-2011-0980 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Excel 2002 SP3 and 2003 SP3, Office 2004 and 2008 for Mac, and Open XML File Format Converter for Mac do not properly parse Office Art objects, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors related to a function pointer, aka "Excel Dangling Pointer Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2025
The CVE-2011-0980 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Microsoft Office applications that affects multiple versions including Excel 2002 SP3 and 2003 SP3, Office 2004 and 2008 for Mac, as well as the Open XML File Format Converter for Mac. This vulnerability stems from improper parsing of Office Art objects within the Office suite, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw specifically manifests as a dangling pointer vulnerability that occurs during the processing of function pointers within Office Art objects, making it particularly dangerous for targeted attacks.
This vulnerability operates through a memory management error where the application fails to properly validate or handle function pointers when parsing Office Art objects. When an attacker crafts a malicious Office document containing specially formatted Office Art elements, the vulnerable application attempts to process these elements and encounters a dangling pointer condition. This condition allows the attacker to manipulate memory locations and potentially redirect execution flow to malicious code, effectively bypassing standard security controls. The vulnerability falls under CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions, though the implementation in this case creates a more complex dangling pointer scenario.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching across enterprise environments where Microsoft Office applications are commonly used. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through social engineering campaigns, phishing emails containing malicious Excel files, or by compromising legitimate document repositories. Once successfully exploited, the vulnerability provides attackers with the ability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or deployment of additional malware. The remote nature of the attack means that users do not need to perform any specific actions beyond opening the malicious file, making it particularly dangerous in corporate environments where users frequently open documents from external sources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-0980 should include immediate application of Microsoft security patches and updates, particularly for the affected Office versions. Organizations should implement strict document validation policies, including disabling macros in Office documents from untrusted sources and employing sandboxing techniques for document processing. Network-level controls such as email filtering and web proxy configurations can help prevent delivery of malicious Office files to end users. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing endpoint protection solutions that can detect and block exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving office application usage and remote code execution, requiring comprehensive defensive measures that address both the specific vulnerability and broader attack patterns associated with Office-based exploits. Regular security assessments and user awareness training should also be implemented to reduce the risk of successful exploitation through social engineering approaches.