CVE-2015-1683 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Office 2007 SP3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted document, aka "Microsoft Office Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1683 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Microsoft Office 2007 Service Pack 3 that enables remote code execution through specially crafted malicious documents. This vulnerability resides in the way Office processes certain file formats, specifically targeting memory management functions that handle document parsing operations. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate memory structures during document rendering, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution on vulnerable systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited through social engineering attacks where users open malicious documents, making it a prime target for phishing campaigns and targeted attacks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions where an application reads data from memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. The flaw occurs when Microsoft Office 2007 SP3 fails to properly validate input data within document structures, particularly in how it handles memory allocation and deallocation during document parsing. Attackers can craft documents containing malicious code that, when opened by a vulnerable Office instance, triggers memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the user running the application. This type of vulnerability is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow, where the attacker manipulates memory allocation to overwrite critical program structures.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1683 extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass complete system compromise when exploited successfully. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain full control over the affected system, potentially leading to data exfiltration, persistence mechanisms, and lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability affects not only individual workstations but also enterprise networks where Office 2007 SP3 installations are prevalent, making it a significant concern for organizations with legacy software deployments. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the widespread use of Microsoft Office across enterprise environments, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to establish persistent access to network resources. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and script interpreter execution, as successful exploitation typically involves executing malicious payloads through system commands.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1683 primarily focus on immediate patching and system hardening measures. Microsoft released security updates that address this vulnerability through proper input validation and memory management improvements in Office 2007 SP3. Organizations should prioritize applying these patches across all affected systems and consider implementing additional security controls such as email filtering, document validation policies, and user education programs to reduce the risk of exploitation. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can provide additional layers of protection, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect suspicious file access patterns and potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software inventory and implementing comprehensive vulnerability management processes to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by threat actors.