CVE-2016-0126 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Office 2013 SP1, 2013 RT SP1, and 2016 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted Office document, aka "Microsoft Office Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0126 represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Office applications including Office 2013 SP1, 2013 RT SP1, and Office 2016. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The flaw specifically affects how Microsoft Office handles certain file formats and processing operations, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory structures through maliciously crafted documents.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper input validation and memory management within the Office document parsing engines. When a user opens a specially crafted Office document, the application's handling of malformed data structures triggers memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the targeted user. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust relationship between users and Office applications, requiring no elevated privileges beyond normal user access to exploit the flaw.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2016-0126 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass broader security implications including potential privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and persistent system compromise. Attackers can craft documents that appear legitimate to users while containing malicious payloads designed to exploit the memory corruption vulnerability. The attack surface is significantly expanded due to the widespread deployment of Office applications across enterprise environments, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.005 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation typically involves executing malicious code through the compromised Office application.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0126 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Microsoft as the primary defense mechanism. Organizations must implement comprehensive email filtering solutions to prevent delivery of malicious Office documents through spam campaigns, while also establishing strict document handling policies that limit user interaction with untrusted files. Network-based protections including web application firewalls and content inspection systems can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that combine multiple security controls to protect against memory corruption vulnerabilities. Security awareness training for end users remains critical as social engineering remains a primary delivery method for exploiting such vulnerabilities.