CVE-2017-11825 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Office 2016 Click-to-Run (C2R) and Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac allow an attacker to use a specially crafted file to perform actions in the security context of the current user, due to how Microsoft Office handles files in memory, aka "Microsoft Office Remote Code Execution Vulnerability".
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11825 represents a critical remote code execution flaw affecting Microsoft Office 2016 Click-to-Run and Office 2016 for Mac installations. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of specially crafted files within the memory management systems of these office applications, creating a dangerous attack surface that allows adversaries to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the currently logged-in user. The flaw specifically manifests when Microsoft Office processes certain file formats that trigger memory corruption issues, enabling attackers to leverage these conditions for malicious payload execution.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves memory corruption during file processing operations, where Microsoft Office applications fail to properly validate and sanitize input data from maliciously crafted documents. This memory handling weakness creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the application's execution flow through buffer overflows, heap corruption, or other memory-based exploitation techniques. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the security context of the current user, meaning that successful exploitation would allow attackers to perform actions such as installing programs, modifying system configurations, or accessing sensitive data without requiring elevated privileges beyond what the user already possesses.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to enterprise environments where Microsoft Office remains the primary productivity suite. Attackers can exploit this flaw through various delivery mechanisms including phishing emails containing malicious attachments, compromised websites hosting malicious files, or through social engineering campaigns targeting specific user groups. The remote code execution capability allows adversaries to establish persistent access, deploy additional malware, or escalate privileges within the compromised system. Organizations may experience data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement throughout their network infrastructure, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments with limited security monitoring capabilities.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions in software applications, and reflects common patterns identified in the ATT&CK framework under the execution and privilege escalation tactics. Security professionals should implement layered mitigation strategies including immediate patch deployment for affected Office versions, enhanced email filtering to detect malicious attachments, and user education programs to reduce successful social engineering attempts. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can provide additional protection layers, while monitoring for unusual file processing activities or memory access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing Microsoft's Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit and other security hardening measures to reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact of similar vulnerabilities.