CVE-2017-0262 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Office 2010 SP2, Office 2013 SP1, and Office 2016 allow a remote code execution vulnerability when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka "Office Remote Code Execution Vulnerability". This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2017-0261 and CVE-2017-0281.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0262 represents a critical remote code execution flaw affecting multiple versions of Microsoft Office including Office 2010 SP2, Office 2013 SP1, and Office 2016. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of objects in memory during the processing of specially crafted Office documents, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized system access. The flaw specifically manifests when Microsoft Office applications fail to properly validate and manage memory objects, leading to potential arbitrary code execution on affected systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where applications access memory locations beyond their allocated bounds. Attackers can craft malicious Office documents containing malformed objects that trigger memory corruption when processed by vulnerable Office applications. This memory corruption occurs during the parsing and rendering of document elements, particularly affecting the way Office handles structured storage and object serialization. The vulnerability exploits the lack of proper input validation and memory management within the Office application's document processing engine, allowing attackers to manipulate memory contents and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-on user.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0262 is substantial as it enables attackers to perform remote code execution without requiring user interaction beyond opening a malicious document, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios. The vulnerability can be exploited through various delivery methods including email attachments, malicious websites, or compromised documents shared via collaboration platforms. Once successfully exploited, attackers can establish persistent access, escalate privileges, and potentially move laterally within network environments. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because Office applications are widely deployed across enterprise environments, making the attack surface extensive and the potential damage significant.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0262 should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security updates and patches addressing the memory handling flaw in Office applications. Organizations should implement strict document validation policies, including disabling macro execution in Office documents from untrusted sources and employing sandboxing techniques for document processing. Network-based mitigations such as email filtering and web proxy configurations can help prevent delivery of malicious documents. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the execution and privilege escalation tactics. Security teams should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions to monitor for suspicious memory access patterns and potential exploitation attempts. Regular security awareness training for users to recognize phishing attempts and suspicious document attachments remains crucial in preventing successful exploitation of this vulnerability.