CVE-2016-0122 in Excel
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Excel 2007 SP3, Excel 2010 SP2, Excel 2013 SP1, Excel 2013 RT SP1, Excel 2016, Word 2016 for Mac, Office Compatibility Pack SP3, and Excel Viewer 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 • 04/26/2025
The Microsoft Office Memory Corruption Vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0122 represents a critical security flaw affecting multiple versions of Microsoft Office applications including Excel 2007 through 2016 and Word 2016 for Mac. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory structures when processing specially crafted Office documents, creating opportunities for remote code execution attacks. The flaw manifests in the way these applications parse and render specific file formats, particularly when encountering malformed or maliciously constructed Office documents that exploit memory management weaknesses.
This vulnerability operates through a classic heap-based buffer overflow condition where malicious input data causes memory corruption in the Office application's processing pipeline. The technical implementation involves the application's failure to properly validate input parameters when parsing Office document formats such as .xls, .xlsx, .doc, and .docx files. When a user opens or previews a crafted document, the malicious code embedded within the file triggers memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, Heap-based Buffer Overflow, and CWE-125, Out-of-bounds Read, both of which are fundamental memory safety issues that have been extensively documented in cybersecurity literature and represent common attack vectors in enterprise environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass significant business continuity risks and data compromise potential. Attackers can leverage this flaw to deploy malware, establish persistent backdoors, or escalate privileges within compromised systems. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that adversaries can target users without requiring physical access or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous in corporate environments where users frequently open email attachments or download documents from untrusted sources. The attack surface is broad given that Office applications are widely used across organizations and the vulnerability affects multiple versions simultaneously, creating widespread exposure.
Organizations should implement layered mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability effectively. Immediate remediation through Microsoft's security updates is essential, as the company released patches specifically addressing the memory corruption issues in affected Office versions. Network-based mitigations including email filtering, document preview restrictions, and application control policies can provide additional protection layers. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, and T1059, Command and Scripting Interpreter, highlighting the need for comprehensive endpoint protection measures. Security teams should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls, regular security awareness training for users, and monitoring for suspicious document handling activities. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all affected systems have been properly patched and secured against this memory corruption vulnerability.