CVE-2014-6357 in Word
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Office 2010 SP2, Office 2013 Gold and SP1, Office 2013 RT Gold and SP1, Office for Mac 2011, Word Viewer, Office Compatibility Pack SP3, Word Automation Services on SharePoint Server 2010 SP2 and 2013 Gold and SP1, and Office Web Apps 2010 SP2 and 2013 Gold and SP1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted Office document, aka "Use After Free Word Remote Code Execution Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Microsoft Office applications that affects multiple versions including Office 2010 SP2, Office 2013 Gold and SP1, Office for Mac 2011, and various other Office components. The vulnerability falls under CWE-416 which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions where memory is accessed after it has been freed, creating a predictable security weakness that attackers can exploit to execute arbitrary code. The flaw manifests when Office applications process specially crafted Office documents that trigger memory management issues during document parsing operations.
The technical exploitation occurs through a remote code execution vector where an attacker can craft malicious Office documents that, when opened by a victim, cause the application to free memory associated with document objects and subsequently access that freed memory. This creates a scenario where attackers can manipulate memory contents to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the victim user. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through email attachments, web downloads, or any Office document delivery mechanism, making it a prime target for phishing campaigns and drive-by download attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across enterprise environments where Office applications are widely used, potentially allowing attackers to gain persistent access to systems and escalate privileges. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish backdoors, steal sensitive data, deploy additional malware, or move laterally within networks. The attack surface is broad as it affects not just desktop Office installations but also SharePoint Server environments and Office Web Apps, meaning that organizations with web-based document processing capabilities are equally at risk. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which covers exploitation for execution through use-after-free vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment for all affected Office versions, implementing strict email filtering and sandboxing for document attachments, and applying network segmentation to limit lateral movement. Organizations should also consider disabling Office document processing in web browsers where possible, implementing application whitelisting policies, and monitoring for suspicious document handling activities. Microsoft released security updates for this vulnerability as part of their regular patching cycles, and organizations should ensure all systems are updated to the latest security patches to eliminate this threat vector. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of memory safety practices in office productivity software and highlights the need for continuous security assessments of widely deployed applications.