CVE-2013-3889 in SharePoint Server
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Excel 2007 SP3, 2010 SP1 and SP2, 2013, and 2013 RT; Office 2007 SP3, 2010 SP1 and SP2, 2013, and 2013 RT; Office for Mac 2011; Excel Viewer; Office Compatibility Pack SP3; and Excel Services and Word Automation Services in SharePoint Server 2013 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted Office document, aka "Microsoft Excel Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Office applications that affects multiple versions of Excel and Word products across different platforms. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of specially crafted Office documents that can trigger memory corruption during document processing, creating opportunities for remote code execution attacks. The flaw exists in the way these applications parse and handle specific file structures within Office documents, particularly when processing malformed or maliciously constructed spreadsheet files. This type of vulnerability is classified as a buffer overflow or memory corruption issue that can be exploited through social engineering techniques where users open maliciously crafted documents.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a user opens a specially crafted Excel file that contains malformed data structures designed to overwrite memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. Attackers can construct documents that manipulate the parsing logic of Excel applications to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the victim user. The vulnerability affects not only standalone Office installations but also server-side components including Excel Services and Word Automation Services in SharePoint Server 2013, expanding the potential attack surface significantly. This memory corruption vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, and malicious websites, making it a prime target for widespread exploitation campaigns.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-3889 extends beyond individual system compromises to potentially enable broader network infiltration and lateral movement within enterprise environments. When successfully exploited, this vulnerability allows attackers to gain full control over affected systems, potentially leading to data exfiltration, persistent backdoor installation, and further compromise of network resources. The vulnerability's presence in Office Compatibility Pack and SharePoint Server components means that organizations with legacy systems or those using compatibility modes are particularly at risk. Organizations that rely heavily on document sharing and collaboration features are especially vulnerable as the attack vectors can be delivered through normal business processes involving document exchange.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch deployment across all affected Microsoft Office versions, including both client applications and server-side components. Organizations should implement strict document validation policies and user education programs to reduce the risk of opening malicious attachments. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can provide additional defense layers by restricting which applications can execute on systems. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise including unusual network connections, unauthorized process execution, and unexpected system behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-125 indicates it involves out-of-bounds read operations, while its exploitation patterns align with ATT&CK techniques involving initial access through malicious files and privilege escalation through code execution. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems that may be running unpatched versions of affected software components.