CVE-2012-0141 in Excel
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Excel 2003 SP3, 2007 SP2 and SP3, and 2010 Gold and SP1; Office 2011 for Mac; Excel Viewer; and Office Compatibility Pack SP2 and SP3 do not properly handle memory during the opening of files, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted spreadsheet, aka "Excel File Format Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0141 represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting multiple versions of Microsoft Excel and related Office components. This issue stems from improper memory handling during the file opening process, creating a pathway for remote code execution attacks. The affected products include Excel 2003 SP3, Excel 2007 SP2 and SP3, Excel 2010 Gold and SP1, Office 2011 for Mac, Excel Viewer, and the Office Compatibility Pack SP2 and SP3. The vulnerability operates through crafted malicious spreadsheets that exploit memory management weaknesses in the Excel application's file parsing mechanisms.
This memory corruption vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The flaw occurs when Excel attempts to parse malformed spreadsheet files, causing the application to access memory locations outside the intended bounds. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting specially designed Excel files that trigger buffer overflows or other memory corruption scenarios during the file opening sequence. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows remote attackers to execute malicious code without requiring user interaction beyond opening the compromised file, making it a prime target for phishing campaigns and targeted attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-0141 extends beyond simple exploitation, as it represents a fundamental flaw in how Excel handles file format parsing and memory allocation. When a user opens a maliciously crafted spreadsheet, the application's memory management routines fail to properly validate input data, leading to potential system compromise. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting weaknesses in software applications to gain unauthorized access. The remote execution capability means that attackers can deliver malicious payloads through email attachments, web downloads, or other delivery mechanisms without requiring physical access to the target system. Organizations running affected versions of Excel face significant risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within their networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0141 must address both immediate protection and long-term remediation. Microsoft released security updates to address this vulnerability, and organizations should prioritize installing these patches immediately. Additionally, implementing strict file validation policies, disabling automatic opening of files from untrusted sources, and deploying application whitelisting solutions can significantly reduce the attack surface. Network segmentation and email filtering solutions should be enhanced to prevent malicious spreadsheet files from reaching end users. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for affected Excel versions, while user education programs should emphasize the dangers of opening suspicious spreadsheet files. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for spreadsheet processing and maintaining robust backup and recovery procedures to mitigate potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.