CVE-2011-3413 in PowerPoint
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 SP2; Office 2008 for Mac; Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats SP2; and PowerPoint Viewer 2007 SP2 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via an invalid OfficeArt record in a PowerPoint document, aka "OfficeArt Shape RCE Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3413 represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting multiple Microsoft Office products including PowerPoint 2007 SP2, Office 2008 for Mac, the Office Compatibility Pack, and PowerPoint Viewer 2007 SP2. This vulnerability resides in the OfficeArt record parsing functionality within PowerPoint's file processing engine, specifically when handling malformed OfficeArt records within PowerPoint presentation files. The flaw manifests when the application attempts to parse invalid OfficeArt records, which can lead to unpredictable memory behavior and potential code execution. This issue falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where an application reads data beyond the boundaries of a buffer, potentially leading to memory corruption. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems simply by opening a maliciously crafted PowerPoint file, making it a prime target for zero-day exploits in corporate and enterprise environments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a specially crafted PowerPoint document contains malformed OfficeArt records that trigger memory corruption during the parsing process. The OfficeArt record format is used to store drawing objects within Office documents, including shapes, text boxes, and other graphical elements. When the vulnerable PowerPoint application encounters an invalid OfficeArt record structure, the parsing routine fails to properly validate the data boundaries, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running the application. This type of vulnerability is classified under the ATT&CK framework as T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. The memory corruption typically manifests through stack or heap corruption, which can be exploited to overwrite critical program execution pointers or inject malicious code into the application's memory space.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-3413 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass full system compromise when successfully exploited. Organizations running affected Office versions face significant risk of data breaches, malware infections, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where users frequently open documents from external sources or receive email attachments containing potentially malicious PowerPoint files. Attackers can craft documents that appear legitimate but contain the malicious OfficeArt records, making detection and prevention challenging. The vulnerability affects not only desktop users but also mobile and web-based Office applications that utilize the same underlying parsing libraries, potentially expanding the attack surface. Organizations implementing standard security controls may find this vulnerability particularly dangerous because it can bypass traditional email filtering mechanisms, as the malicious payload is embedded within the document structure itself rather than being delivered through network protocols or email attachments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3413 should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches and updates to address the underlying memory corruption flaw. System administrators should implement strict document handling policies that restrict opening of PowerPoint files from untrusted sources and consider deploying application whitelisting solutions to prevent execution of unauthorized Office applications. Network-based security controls such as content filtering and sandboxing of document attachments can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing email security solutions that can detect and block malicious OfficeArt records within PowerPoint documents. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw necessitates comprehensive monitoring and incident response procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that systems are properly patched and that no exploitation attempts have occurred. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding opening suspicious Office documents and reporting potential security incidents to IT security teams. The ATT&CK framework recommends implementing defensive measures such as process injection prevention and memory protection mechanisms to mitigate the risk of exploitation. Organizations should also maintain current threat intelligence feeds to stay informed about emerging exploitation techniques targeting this vulnerability and ensure that their security infrastructure can detect and respond to such threats effectively.