CVE-2015-1759 in Office Compatibility Pack
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack SP3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted Office document, aka "Microsoft Office Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1759 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack SP3 that enables remote code execution through maliciously crafted Office documents. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory safety issues and specifically aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The flaw exists in the way the Compatibility Pack handles certain file formats during parsing operations, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory structures and ultimately gain unauthorized execution privileges on affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack processes specially crafted Office documents that contain malformed data structures. Attackers can construct documents with specifically designed elements that trigger buffer overflows or other memory corruption scenarios during the parsing phase. These crafted documents typically exploit weaknesses in the document format handling mechanisms, particularly when processing legacy file formats that require conversion or compatibility layer processing. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust model inherent in Office applications, where users expect to safely open documents without anticipating malicious code execution.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments where Office documents are frequently shared and opened by multiple users. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can deliver malicious payloads through email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing systems without requiring local access to target systems. Organizations with extensive use of Office Compatibility Pack installations face heightened exposure since the vulnerability affects the compatibility layer that processes documents from older Office versions. The exploitability of this vulnerability is further enhanced by the fact that users often automatically open Office documents without considering the potential security implications, creating a wide attack surface for threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1759 should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches and updates to address the underlying memory corruption issue. Organizations should implement strict document validation policies that scan and quarantine suspicious Office files before they reach end users. Network-based protections such as email filtering systems and web proxies can help prevent delivery of malicious documents through common attack vectors. Additionally, security awareness training for users should emphasize the dangers of opening untrusted Office documents, particularly those received via email or downloaded from unknown sources. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1204.002, which describes the use of Office applications for execution, making layered defensive approaches essential for comprehensive protection against this specific threat vector.