CVE-2011-3411 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Publisher 2003 SP3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted Publisher file that leverages incorrect handling of values in memory, aka "Publisher Invalid Pointer Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2025
The CVE-2011-3411 vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Publisher 2003 Service Pack 3 that enables remote code execution through maliciously crafted Publisher files. This vulnerability falls under the category of buffer overflow conditions where improper memory handling allows attackers to manipulate pointer values during file processing operations. The flaw specifically manifests when Publisher attempts to parse malformed data structures within Publisher files, leading to unpredictable memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the victim user.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices within Publisher's file parsing engine. When processing specially crafted Publisher documents, the application fails to properly validate pointer references and memory allocation boundaries, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code into the application's memory space. This type of vulnerability is classified as a CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, representing fundamental memory safety issues that have been consistently identified as high-risk in software security assessments. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be triggered through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious file shares.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations utilizing Microsoft Publisher 2003, particularly in environments where users frequently open documents from untrusted sources. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain full system compromise without requiring user interaction beyond opening the malicious file, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attacks. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries exploit software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. Organizations may experience data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within networks as attackers establish persistent access through this vector.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3411 should prioritize immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's security updates, as the vulnerability has been addressed through official Microsoft security bulletins. Organizations should implement restrictive file handling policies that prevent automatic execution of Publisher files from untrusted sources, including disabling automatic preview features and implementing strict email filtering measures. Network segmentation and endpoint protection solutions should be enhanced to detect and block malicious Publisher files. Additionally, security awareness training should emphasize the dangers of opening unknown Publisher documents, while regular vulnerability assessments should identify systems running outdated Publisher versions that remain vulnerable to exploitation. The remediation process should include comprehensive system audits to ensure all instances of Publisher 2003 SP3 have been properly updated or decommissioned.