CVE-2016-0053 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Word 2007 SP3, Office 2010 SP2, Word 2010 SP2, Word 2013 SP1, Word 2013 RT SP1, Word 2016, Office Compatibility Pack SP3, Word Viewer, Word Automation Services on SharePoint Server 2013 SP1, Office Web Apps Server 2013 SP1, and SharePoint Server 2013 SP1 allow 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 • 07/07/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Office applications that affects multiple versions including Word 2007 through Word 2016 along with various compatibility packs and server components. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation when processing specially crafted Office documents, specifically those containing malformed or maliciously constructed data structures. Attackers can exploit this weakness by embedding malicious code within seemingly legitimate Office documents, which when opened by vulnerable applications trigger memory corruption that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution. The flaw operates at the memory management level where Office applications fail to properly validate the boundaries of data structures during document parsing, creating opportunities for buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions that can be directly exploited.
The technical impact of this vulnerability spans across multiple attack vectors and execution contexts within the Microsoft Office ecosystem. When a user opens a maliciously crafted document, the Office application's parsing engine attempts to process the malformed data structures without adequate boundary checks, leading to memory corruption that can be manipulated by attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-on user. This memory corruption vulnerability specifically enables attackers to bypass security mechanisms such as data execution prevention and address space layout randomization, as the exploitation can occur within the application's own memory space. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through simple document opening actions, making it highly effective for phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks where users are tricked into opening seemingly benign documents.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on Microsoft Office applications for document processing and collaboration. The widespread deployment of affected Office versions across enterprise environments means that successful exploitation can potentially compromise large numbers of systems simultaneously. The attack surface is extensive given that the vulnerability affects not only desktop applications but also server-side components such as SharePoint Server 2013 and Office Web Apps Server 2013, which means that organizations using these platforms face additional exposure. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers "Exploitation for Client Execution" where attackers leverage vulnerabilities in client applications to execute malicious code. Organizations may experience significant operational disruption if exploited, as the compromise of individual workstations can potentially lead to lateral movement within networks and broader security breaches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch deployment and operational security enhancements. Microsoft released security updates addressing this vulnerability, and organizations should prioritize applying these patches across all affected Office versions and server components. Network-based mitigations include implementing document validation policies that scan and filter incoming Office documents before they reach end users, particularly in email gateways and file sharing systems. Additional protective measures involve disabling automatic document opening in web browsers, implementing application whitelisting policies, and using sandboxing technologies to isolate document processing activities. Security monitoring should focus on detecting anomalous document opening patterns and potential exploitation attempts, while user education programs should emphasize the importance of verifying document sources and avoiding suspicious attachments. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.