CVE-2016-7277 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Office 2016 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted document, aka "Microsoft Office Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7277 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Microsoft Office 2016 that enables remote attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution or induce denial of service conditions. This vulnerability specifically affects the processing of crafted documents, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently open documents from untrusted sources. The flaw stems from improper handling of memory structures during document parsing operations, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents and potentially execute malicious code with the privileges of the victim user. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read condition, which is a common vector for memory corruption exploits that can lead to privilege escalation and system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting malicious Office documents that, when opened by an affected system, trigger the memory corruption during document rendering or processing. The exploitation mechanism typically involves manipulating document structures in ways that cause the Office application to access memory locations outside of intended boundaries, potentially leading to code execution or application crashes.
The technical impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, and file sharing platforms. When an affected Office application processes a malicious document, the memory corruption can result in unpredictable behavior ranging from application instability and crashes to full system compromise. The vulnerability affects Microsoft Office 2016 versions and potentially other Office applications that share similar document parsing mechanisms, making it a widespread concern for enterprise environments. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes exploitation of software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation, and T1059, which covers command and control through application layer protocols. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability makes it particularly challenging to detect and mitigate, as the malicious behavior may not be immediately apparent during document processing. Attackers often utilize this vulnerability as part of multi-stage attack campaigns, where initial access is gained through document-based exploits, followed by further compromise of the target system.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigation strategies including deploying Microsoft security updates and patches, implementing strict document filtering policies, and configuring application whitelisting to prevent execution of untrusted Office documents. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security measures and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against memory corruption exploits. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to Office document processing, including unusual memory usage patterns, application crashes, or unexpected network connections from Office processes. Network segmentation and email filtering solutions should be configured to block potentially malicious Office documents from entering the organization. The vulnerability also highlights the need for regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar memory corruption issues in other applications and systems. Organizations should consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure rapid deployment of security updates and reduce the window of exposure to known vulnerabilities. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding opening suspicious documents and verifying document sources before processing potentially malicious content.