CVE-2014-6333 in Word
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Word 2007 SP3, Word Viewer, and Office Compatibility Pack SP3 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted Office document, aka "Microsoft Office Double Delete Remote Code Execution Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6333 represents a critical remote code execution flaw affecting Microsoft Word 2007 Service Pack 3 Word Viewer and Office Compatibility Pack Service Pack 3. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory structures within the Microsoft Office application when processing specially crafted Office documents. The flaw specifically manifests during the parsing of certain document elements where the application fails to properly validate memory deallocation operations, creating a condition that can be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems. The vulnerability is classified as a double free error, which occurs when the same memory block is deallocated twice, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting a malicious Office document that contains malformed data structures designed to trigger the double free condition during document processing. When a user opens such a document, the Office application attempts to process the malicious content and subsequently deallocates memory blocks in a manner that allows an attacker to manipulate the memory layout. This memory corruption can then be exploited to overwrite critical function pointers or execute shellcode within the application context. The vulnerability resides in the Word processing engine's memory management routines and is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through simple document opening operations, requiring no special user interaction beyond opening the malicious file. According to CWE-415, this vulnerability corresponds to an improper free condition where the application attempts to free the same memory block multiple times, creating a predictable memory corruption pattern that attackers can exploit.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-6333 extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass potential system compromise and privilege escalation. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain full control over the affected system, potentially leading to data exfiltration, persistence mechanisms establishment, and lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability affects multiple Microsoft Office products and versions, making it particularly widespread and dangerous in enterprise environments where these applications are commonly deployed. Organizations running affected versions of Microsoft Word, Word Viewer, and Office Compatibility Pack face significant risk of compromise when users open malicious documents, as the exploitation requires minimal user interaction and can occur through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious Office documents shared through collaboration platforms. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes exploitation of software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation and system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-6333 primarily focus on immediate patching and application of Microsoft security updates. Microsoft released security bulletin MS14-062 addressing this vulnerability, which should be deployed immediately across all affected systems. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates across their Microsoft Office environments. Additional protective measures include implementing strict document handling policies, enabling application whitelisting where possible, and configuring email security solutions to scan and block suspicious Office documents. Network-based protections such as intrusion detection systems and web proxies can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts by monitoring for known malicious document patterns. Security awareness training for end users remains crucial in preventing accidental opening of malicious documents, while regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing can help identify systems that may not have received proper patch updates. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper application hardening practices to prevent exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities in widely used productivity software applications.