CVE-2012-2528 in Word
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Word 2003 SP3, 2007 SP2 and SP3, and 2010 SP1; Word Viewer; Office Compatibility Pack SP2 and SP3; Word Automation Services on Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010; and Office Web Apps 2010 SP1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted RTF document, aka "RTF File listid Use-After-Free Vulnerability."
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Microsoft Office applications that affects multiple versions including Word 2003 SP3, 2007 SP2 and SP3, 2010 SP1, Word Viewer, Office Compatibility Pack SP2 and SP3, Word Automation Services on SharePoint Server 2010, and Office Web Apps 2010 SP1. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the handling of RTF documents and is categorized under CWE-416 as a use-after-free condition. The flaw occurs when Microsoft Word processes a maliciously crafted RTF document that contains a listid field, which triggers improper memory management during document parsing operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of a memory management error where freed memory blocks are accessed after being deallocated, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow. When a victim opens a specially crafted RTF document, the Word application processes the listid field in a manner that causes memory to be freed but not properly invalidated, allowing subsequent operations to reference this freed memory space. This memory corruption can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the targeted user, potentially enabling full system compromise.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk as it enables remote code execution through social engineering attacks targeting end users who open malicious RTF documents. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because RTF files are commonly used in email attachments and web downloads, making them ideal for phishing campaigns. The vulnerability affects both desktop and server environments, including SharePoint Server 2010 and Office Web Apps, expanding the potential attack surface. Security researchers have documented this vulnerability as part of the broader ATT&CK framework under the T1203 technique for Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers leverage software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond individual user compromise to potential enterprise-wide security breaches, particularly when considering the widespread adoption of Microsoft Office applications. Organizations with SharePoint Server 2010 environments face additional risk as Word Automation Services can be exploited to execute code remotely without user interaction, potentially enabling attackers to gain access to entire document repositories. Microsoft's security advisory categorizes this vulnerability as high severity and recommends immediate patching of affected systems, while security professionals should implement network-based protections such as email filtering and web application firewalls to mitigate potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management in office applications and highlights the ongoing need for robust input validation and sanitization in document processing components.