CVE-2012-1888 in Visio
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Microsoft Visio 2010 SP1 and Visio Viewer 2010 SP1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted Visio file, aka "Visio DXF File Format Buffer Overflow Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1888 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in Microsoft Visio 2010 Service Pack 1 and Visio Viewer 2010 Service Pack 1 applications. This security weakness specifically affects the handling of DXF file format components within the Visio software ecosystem, creating an exploitable condition that enables remote code execution attacks. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms when processing maliciously crafted Visio files that contain malformed DXF data structures. According to the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw exists in the parsing logic of the Visio application's DXF file handler, where the software fails to properly validate the size and structure of incoming data before attempting to copy it into fixed-size memory buffers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass potential system compromise and data exfiltration capabilities. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious Visio files containing specially constructed DXF elements that trigger the buffer overflow when opened by vulnerable applications. The exploitation process typically involves overwriting critical memory segments including return addresses and function pointers, potentially allowing attackers to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected user. This vulnerability aligns with MITRE ATT&CK framework techniques categorized under T1203, which covers Exploitation for Execution, and T1059, covering Command and Scripting Interpreter, as the successful exploitation enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands on compromised systems. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it can be delivered through email attachments, web downloads, or shared network resources, making it accessible to threat actors with minimal technical expertise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1888 should encompass both immediate defensive measures and long-term remediation approaches. Microsoft released security updates and patches addressing this vulnerability through their regular security bulletin process, which should be deployed immediately across all affected systems. Organizations should implement restrictive file handling policies that prevent automatic execution of Visio files from untrusted sources, combined with network-level filtering to block suspicious file types. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by running Visio applications with reduced permissions and implementing application whitelisting controls to prevent unauthorized execution of malicious payloads. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous file access patterns and potential exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for document processing and regular security assessments to identify potential variants of this vulnerability that may exist in other Microsoft Office applications or third-party software that handles similar file formats. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of timely patch management and proper input validation in preventing remote code execution attacks that can lead to complete system compromise.