CVE-2016-3359 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Excel 2007 SP3, Excel 2010 SP2, Office Compatibility Pack SP3, and Excel Viewer allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted document, aka "Microsoft Office Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Excel applications that affects versions including Excel 2007 SP3, Excel 2010 SP2, Office Compatibility Pack SP3, and Excel Viewer. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of malformed data structures within Excel files, specifically when parsing certain spreadsheet elements that trigger buffer overflows or memory corruption conditions. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious Excel documents containing specially constructed data that, when opened by an affected version of Excel, causes the application to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-in user. The flaw falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently open documents from untrusted sources, making it a prime target for phishing campaigns and targeted attacks. The attack vector is typically delivered through email attachments, web downloads, or malicious file sharing platforms, leveraging the widespread use of Microsoft Office applications across organizations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires attackers to create carefully constructed Excel files that trigger specific memory corruption patterns during the parsing process. When Excel attempts to process these malformed files, the application's memory management routines fail to properly validate input data, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute malicious code. The vulnerability is classified under the ATT&CK technique T1059.005 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for exploitation for client execution, as it enables attackers to gain remote code execution capabilities. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially allow privilege escalation attacks, especially when victims are running with administrative privileges. This vulnerability demonstrates the classic characteristics of a heap-based memory corruption issue where attackers can manipulate memory layout to redirect program execution flow through return-oriented programming or direct code injection techniques.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability face significant operational risks including potential data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized access to sensitive corporate information. The widespread deployment of affected Excel versions across enterprise networks makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to cybercriminals and nation-state actors seeking to establish persistent access to target environments. Security teams must consider the broader implications of this vulnerability within their incident response frameworks, as exploitation often leads to full system compromise rather than limited access. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires minimal user interaction, making it particularly effective in social engineering campaigns where users are tricked into opening malicious documents. Organizations should also consider the potential for lateral movement within networks once initial compromise occurs, as attackers often use the initial foothold to escalate privileges and expand their access to additional systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches and updates, as well as implementing comprehensive email filtering and web content filtering solutions to prevent delivery of malicious documents. Network segmentation and user access controls can help limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also establish robust backup and recovery procedures to ensure business continuity in case of successful attacks. The implementation of application whitelisting policies and mandatory security awareness training for users can significantly reduce the likelihood of exploitation. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious file access patterns and implementing endpoint detection and response solutions can help identify potential exploitation attempts before they result in system compromise. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that all affected systems have been properly patched and secured against this and similar memory corruption vulnerabilities.