CVE-2018-0794 in Word
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Word in Microsoft Office 2007, Microsoft Office 2010, Microsoft Office 2013, and Microsoft Office 2016 allows a remote code execution vulnerability due to the way objects are handled in memory, aka "Microsoft Word Remote Code Execution Vulnerability". This CVE is unique from CVE-2018-0792.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0794 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within Microsoft Word applications across multiple Office versions including 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. This security weakness stems from improper handling of objects in memory during document processing operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability specifically targets the memory management mechanisms that Word employs when parsing and rendering various document elements, particularly those that involve complex object structures and embedded content. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious Word documents that trigger the vulnerable memory handling routines, potentially leading to complete system compromise without user interaction in many scenarios.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where programs access memory locations beyond the intended boundaries. In the context of CVE-2018-0794, Word's document parsing engine fails to properly validate object boundaries when processing malformed or specially crafted document content, allowing attackers to manipulate memory pointers and execute malicious code. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of heap-based buffer overflows and memory corruption issues that have been consistently documented in software security research. The flaw operates at the intersection of document parsing and memory management, where insufficient bounds checking during object instantiation and manipulation creates opportunities for attackers to inject and execute malicious payloads.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to enterprise environments where Microsoft Office applications are widely deployed. The remote code execution capability means that attackers can potentially compromise systems simply by enticing users to open malicious documents via email attachments, web downloads, or other common attack vectors. The vulnerability's presence across multiple Office versions creates a broad attack surface, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with mixed Office environments. Successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, data theft, lateral movement within networks, and establishment of persistent backdoors. Organizations with less sophisticated security controls or those lacking timely patch management processes face particularly high risk, as the vulnerability can be exploited without user awareness or intervention.
Security professionals should implement layered mitigation strategies to address CVE-2018-0794 effectively. Microsoft has released patches through regular security updates that address the memory handling flaws in affected Word versions, making timely patch deployment the primary defense mechanism. Organizations should also consider implementing application control solutions such as Microsoft AppLocker or similar technologies to restrict Word's ability to execute potentially malicious code. Network-based protections including email filtering, web proxies, and intrusion detection systems can help identify and block malicious document delivery attempts. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the dangers of opening unexpected document attachments, while technical controls like disabling macro execution and implementing strict file format validation can reduce exploitation success rates. The vulnerability's characteristics align with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the 'Execution' and 'Persistence' phases, particularly with techniques involving malicious document exploitation and remote code execution. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.