CVE-2018-0801 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 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability".
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0801 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within Microsoft Office applications that affects versions 2007 through 2016. This weakness resides in the Equation Editor component, which is a mathematical equation editing tool integrated into Microsoft Office suites. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of objects within memory structures, creating opportunities for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on targeted systems. The flaw specifically manifests when Office processes specially crafted equation objects that contain malformed data structures, allowing attackers to manipulate memory operations beyond intended boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through memory corruption techniques that leverage the Equation Editor's object handling mechanisms. When a user opens a malicious document containing crafted equation objects, the Office application attempts to parse and render these objects in memory. The improper validation of object parameters and lack of adequate bounds checking enables attackers to overwrite memory locations with malicious code payloads. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. The memory corruption can lead to privilege escalation scenarios where attackers gain elevated system privileges, potentially allowing complete system compromise.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to enterprise environments where Microsoft Office is widely deployed. The attack vector typically involves social engineering campaigns where users are tricked into opening malicious Office documents through email attachments or compromised websites. The vulnerability's remote execution capability means that attackers can compromise systems without requiring local access, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with limited network segmentation. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1203, which covers Exploitation for Client Execution, and T1059, covering Command and Scripting Interpreter. The impact extends beyond individual system compromise to potential lateral movement within networks, as successful exploitation can provide attackers with persistent access to enterprise resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0801 should include immediate application of Microsoft security patches released in response to this vulnerability, which address the underlying memory handling issues in the Equation Editor component. Organizations should implement strict document validation policies that scan for potentially malicious Office files before they reach end users. Network-based protections such as email filtering solutions and web proxies can help block malicious documents from reaching users. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of Office applications in privileged contexts can limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Security teams should also consider disabling the Equation Editor functionality entirely in environments where it is not required, as this removes the attack surface entirely. Regular security awareness training programs can help users recognize suspicious documents and reduce the success rate of social engineering attacks targeting this vulnerability.