CVE-2013-0086 in OneNote
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft OneNote 2010 SP1 does not properly determine buffer sizes during memory allocation, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a crafted OneNote file, aka "Buffer Size Validation Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0086 represents a critical buffer size validation flaw within Microsoft OneNote 2010 Service Pack 1 that exposes the application to remote code execution and information disclosure risks. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation during memory allocation processes, specifically when handling crafted OneNote file structures that manipulate buffer size calculations. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly validate the size parameters associated with memory allocation operations, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory boundaries and extract sensitive information from the application's memory space.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of improper buffer size determination mechanisms within OneNote's file parsing engine. When processing maliciously crafted OneNote files, the application's memory management routines fail to validate the expected buffer sizes against the actual data structures contained within the file. This validation gap allows attackers to craft files that cause the application to allocate insufficient memory buffers, leading to memory corruption and potential information disclosure. The flaw operates at the intersection of memory management and input validation, creating a condition where attacker-controlled data can influence the application's memory allocation decisions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to enterprise environments where OneNote is widely deployed for document management and collaboration. The remote attack vector means that adversaries can exploit this weakness without requiring local access to target systems, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments. Successful exploitation can lead to information disclosure, potentially exposing sensitive user data, application memory contents, or system information that could be leveraged for further attacks. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated exploitation techniques.
The security implications of CVE-2013-0086 align with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of buffer size parameters, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.005 for execution through application-specific vulnerabilities. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, as Microsoft has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Additional mitigations include implementing strict file validation policies, restricting user access to OneNote file processing capabilities, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of robust input validation and memory management practices in preventing remote code execution and information disclosure attacks within productivity applications.