CVE-2018-0851 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Office 2007 SP2, Microsoft Office Word Viewer, Microsoft Office 2010 SP2, Microsoft Office 2013 SP1 and RT SP1, Microsoft Office 2016, and Microsoft Office 2016 Click-to-Run (C2R) allow a remote code execution vulnerability, due to how Office handles objects in memory, aka "Microsoft Office Memory Corruption Vulnerability". This CVE is unique from CVE-2018-0852.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2021
The Microsoft Office Memory Corruption Vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0851 represents a critical remote code execution flaw affecting multiple versions of Microsoft Office software including Office 2007 SP2 through Office 2016. This vulnerability stems from how Office applications process and manage objects in memory, creating opportunities for attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw specifically manifests when Office applications handle malformed or specially crafted objects that trigger memory corruption conditions, allowing malicious actors to gain unauthorized control over vulnerable systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely through various attack vectors including email attachments, malicious documents, or web-based delivery methods.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The flaw occurs during the parsing and rendering of Office documents, where insufficient validation of input data allows attackers to manipulate memory structures and execute malicious payloads. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves legitimate user credentials and system access to establish persistence and execute code remotely. The memory corruption aspect means that attackers can leverage buffer overflows or other memory manipulation techniques to overwrite critical system memory regions, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0851 extends beyond simple code execution, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to target systems, escalate privileges, and potentially move laterally within network environments. Organizations running affected Office versions face significant risk, particularly in environments where users frequently open email attachments or access untrusted documents from web sources. The vulnerability affects both desktop and mobile Office implementations, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where document sharing and collaboration are common practices. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability through various delivery mechanisms including spear-phishing emails, malicious websites, or compromised documents distributed through legitimate channels.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0851 should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches and updates, which address the underlying memory corruption issues in Office applications. Organizations should implement strict email filtering and document validation policies to prevent users from opening potentially malicious files. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions can help detect unusual behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and restricting user permissions to limit potential damage from successful exploits. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include multiple layers of protection against memory corruption attacks. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in their Office environments while ensuring proper incident response procedures are in place to handle potential exploitation attempts.