CVE-2018-0798 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Equation Editor 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 Office Memory Corruption Vulnerability".
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0798 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Microsoft Office's Equation Editor component affecting multiple versions including Office 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption. The flaw specifically manifests when the Equation Editor processes specially crafted objects within Office documents, creating a scenario where attacker-controlled data can overwrite memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper handling of objects in memory during Equation Editor operations. When a malicious document containing crafted Equation objects is opened, the editor fails to properly validate the size and structure of these objects before processing them. This inadequate validation allows an attacker to manipulate memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-on user. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through social engineering attacks where users open maliciously crafted Office documents, making it a prime target for zero-day exploits in targeted campaigns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass full system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. Attackers leveraging this flaw can gain persistent access to affected systems, establish backdoors, and potentially escalate privileges to system-level access. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed Office versions means that organizations across various sectors remain at risk, particularly those with legacy systems still running older Office suites. Security researchers have documented that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain remote access to systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0798 require immediate implementation of Microsoft security updates and patches released in the corresponding security bulletins. Organizations should also implement strict document handling policies, including disabling Equation Editor functionality in Office applications where possible and implementing macro security controls. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the dangers of opening untrusted Office documents and the importance of maintaining current security patches across all systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping software up-to-date and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against sophisticated attacks targeting Office applications.