CVE-2012-2550 in Works
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Works 9 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (heap memory corruption) via a crafted Word .doc file, aka "Works Heap Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2024
The CVE-2012-2550 vulnerability represents a critical heap memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Works 9 that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks through maliciously crafted Word .doc files. This vulnerability specifically affects the Microsoft Works 9 application which was part of the Microsoft Works suite designed for office productivity tasks. The flaw occurs when the application processes specially crafted Word documents that contain malformed data structures within the file format, leading to improper memory management during document parsing operations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory handling mechanisms within the Works application's document processing engine, creating conditions where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations in the heap.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages heap-based memory corruption techniques that align with common software security weaknesses documented in CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions. When a user opens a malicious .doc file in Microsoft Works 9, the application's parsing routine fails to properly validate the structure of the document, allowing attacker-controlled data to overwrite heap memory regions. This memory corruption can result in arbitrary code execution if the attacker can control the overwritten memory addresses to redirect program execution flow, or cause a denial of service through application crashes when memory corruption leads to invalid memory access patterns. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through normal document opening operations without requiring special privileges or complex attack vectors.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-2550 extends beyond simple exploitation scenarios as it represents a significant risk to enterprise environments where legacy Microsoft Works applications may still be in use. Organizations utilizing older versions of Microsoft Works 9 face potential compromise through social engineering attacks where users unknowingly open malicious documents delivered via email attachments or web downloads. The vulnerability affects not only individual workstations but can also serve as a foothold for broader network compromise when attackers use the initial exploit to establish persistent access or deploy additional malicious payloads. According to ATT&CK framework category T1203, this vulnerability enables initial access through malicious document delivery, while T1059 covers the execution of malicious code through legitimate system processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2550 should focus on immediate application of security patches from Microsoft as well as network-level protections against malicious document delivery. Organizations should implement strict document validation policies that prevent automatic execution of potentially malicious content, particularly in email systems and web browsers. Network administrators should deploy content filtering solutions that can detect and block known malicious document signatures, while endpoint protection systems should be configured to scan all incoming documents before opening them in vulnerable applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software inventory and implementing proper software lifecycle management practices to avoid running unsupported applications that may contain unpatched security flaws. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of legacy applications like Microsoft Works 9 in enterprise environments where they are not strictly required for business operations.