CVE-2016-7193 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Word 2007 SP2, Office 2010 SP2, Word 2013 SP1, Word 2013 RT SP1, Word 2016, Word for Mac 2011, Word 2016 for Mac, Office Compatibility Pack SP3, Word Viewer, Word Automation Services on SharePoint Server 2010 SP2, Word Automation Services on SharePoint Server 2013 SP1, Office Web Apps 2010 SP2, Office Web Apps Server 2013 SP1, and Office Online Server allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted RTF document, aka "Microsoft Office Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Word and related Office applications that enables remote code execution through maliciously crafted RTF documents. The issue stems from improper handling of RTF file structures during document parsing, specifically when processing certain embedded objects or formatting elements that trigger buffer overflows or heap corruption conditions. Attackers can craft RTF documents containing malformed data sequences that, when opened by vulnerable Word versions, cause memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code on the target system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and CWE-125, out-of-bounds read, as the flaw occurs during the parsing of RTF content where insufficient bounds checking allows malicious data to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because RTF documents are commonly used for legitimate business communication and can be easily delivered through email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing platforms. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Microsoft Office products spanning multiple versions, creating extensive attack surface across different deployment scenarios including desktop applications, web-based Office Online Server, and SharePoint Automation Services.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to enterprise environments where Office applications are widely used for document creation and collaboration. The attack vector is particularly insidious because RTF documents are often trusted by users and security systems, making social engineering attacks more effective when combined with this technical vulnerability. The exploit requires no special privileges beyond normal user access, as the malicious code executes within the context of the Word application process, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or exfiltrate sensitive data. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, and T1566 for phishing with malicious attachments.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond individual user systems to entire enterprise networks, as compromised Word applications can serve as initial access points for broader attacks. Organizations running affected versions of Microsoft Office are particularly vulnerable because the patching cycle for desktop applications often lags behind server deployments, creating extended exposure windows. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenge of securing complex office document processing systems where legacy compatibility requirements can introduce security weaknesses. Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security updates, implementation of email filtering rules to block suspicious RTF attachments, network segmentation to limit lateral movement, and user education about the risks of opening untrusted document files. Organizations should also consider implementing application control policies that restrict execution of potentially vulnerable Office applications in high-risk environments, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar issues in other Microsoft products and third-party applications that handle similar document formats.