CVE-2019-1464 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability exists when Microsoft Excel improperly discloses the contents of its memory, aka 'Microsoft Excel Information Disclosure Vulnerability'.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1464 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Microsoft Excel that stems from improper memory handling during spreadsheet processing operations. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory corruption issues that can potentially expose sensitive data stored in application memory buffers. The flaw manifests when Excel encounters certain malformed or specially crafted spreadsheet files that trigger unexpected memory access patterns, leading to the unintentional disclosure of data that should remain confidential within the application's memory space. Such information disclosure vulnerabilities are particularly concerning in enterprise environments where spreadsheet applications often process sensitive financial, personal, or proprietary data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves Excel's handling of memory structures during the parsing and rendering of spreadsheet files. When processing malformed input data, the application fails to properly validate memory boundaries and can inadvertently expose memory contents through various access patterns. This typically occurs during the rendering phase where Excel attempts to display or process corrupted data elements, causing memory pointers or adjacent memory regions to be accessed and potentially disclosed. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, which specifically addresses the improper exposure of sensitive information, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005 for data from local system. The memory disclosure can potentially reveal portions of other files, application state information, or even sensitive data from other processes running on the same system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can enable attackers to gather intelligence about the target system and potentially facilitate more sophisticated attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could obtain sensitive information such as encryption keys, user credentials, or proprietary business data that might be stored in memory during Excel operations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous when combined with other attack vectors, as it can provide attackers with additional information needed to craft more effective exploitation strategies. In enterprise environments, this could lead to unauthorized access to financial records, strategic business plans, or confidential communications that are processed through Excel applications. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Microsoft Office and can be exploited through various attack vectors including email attachments, malicious websites, or compromised documents shared through collaboration platforms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-1464 primarily involve applying Microsoft's security updates and patches released to address the memory handling issues within Excel. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems running Microsoft Office applications are updated promptly. Additional protective measures include implementing strict email filtering policies to prevent malicious spreadsheet files from reaching end users, enabling macro security settings, and utilizing application whitelisting solutions to restrict execution of untrusted Office files. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect suspicious file transfers or access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security awareness training programs should educate users about the risks of opening untrusted spreadsheet files and the importance of verifying document sources before processing. Organizations should also consider implementing data loss prevention solutions that can monitor for potential information disclosure events and alert security teams to suspicious activities involving Excel applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management in office applications and highlights the need for continuous security assessments of commonly used productivity software to identify and remediate similar exposure risks.