CVE-2017-11934 in PowerPoint
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Office 2013 RT SP1, Microsoft Office 2013 SP1, and Microsoft Office 2016 allow an information disclosure vulnerability due to the way certain functions handle objects in memory, aka "Microsoft Office Information Disclosure Vulnerability".
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11934 represents a critical information disclosure flaw affecting multiple versions of Microsoft Office including Office 2013 RT SP1, Office 2013 SP1, and Office 2016. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of objects in memory by specific functions within the Office suite, creating potential exposure of sensitive data that could be accessed by malicious actors. The flaw manifests when Office applications process certain file formats or objects that trigger memory management issues, leading to information disclosure through unintended data exposure.
This vulnerability operates at the memory management layer where Office applications fail to properly validate or sanitize object references during processing operations. The technical implementation involves how the affected Office versions handle specific object types when parsing documents or executing embedded content, resulting in memory corruption that can expose sensitive information from adjacent memory locations. The flaw is categorized under CWE-200, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure" vulnerabilities where system information is inadvertently disclosed to unauthorized parties. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious Office documents that trigger the memory handling flaw, potentially accessing confidential data stored in memory regions adjacent to the targeted objects.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-11934 extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can enable more sophisticated attack vectors when combined with other exploitation techniques. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially access sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, or corporate confidential information that resides in memory during document processing operations. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as exploitation often involves crafting malicious documents that leverage the memory handling flaw to execute malicious code or extract information. Organizations running affected Office versions face significant risk of data breaches, especially in environments where users regularly open documents from untrusted sources, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise settings.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-11934 require immediate action including applying Microsoft's security patches and updates that address the memory handling issues in affected Office versions. Organizations should implement comprehensive email filtering solutions to block potentially malicious Office documents before they reach end users, while also enforcing strict document handling policies that limit the opening of files from untrusted sources. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, and regular security awareness training for employees can reduce the risk of successful social engineering attacks that leverage this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting solutions and disabling unnecessary Office features can further reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation of this memory handling flaw.