CVE-2023-23391 in Office
Summary
by MITRE • 03/14/2023
Office for Android Spoofing Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2026
The CVE-2023-23391 vulnerability represents a critical spoofing weakness in Microsoft Office for Android applications that enables attackers to manipulate user interface elements and deceive users into believing they are interacting with legitimate Office applications. This vulnerability specifically affects the rendering and display mechanisms within the Android mobile Office suite, creating opportunities for malicious actors to craft convincing fake interfaces that mimic genuine Office applications. The flaw resides in how the application handles visual presentation and user interaction elements, particularly in scenarios where users might encounter manipulated document previews or interface components that do not accurately reflect the application's true state.
This security weakness stems from insufficient validation of user interface components and inadequate sandboxing mechanisms within the Android Office application framework. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting specially designed Office documents or manipulating the application's display layers to present misleading information to users. The technical implementation involves manipulation of the application's rendering pipeline where the visual representation of documents and interface elements does not properly validate against the actual application state or security context. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-602, which addresses client-side input validation issues where the application relies on potentially compromised client-side data without proper verification mechanisms. The vulnerability creates a dangerous attack surface where users may unknowingly interact with maliciously modified interface elements, potentially leading to further exploitation through social engineering or credential harvesting attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-23391 extends beyond simple visual deception as it can enable more sophisticated attack chains involving credential theft, data exfiltration, and further system compromise. Mobile users who encounter manipulated Office applications may be tricked into entering sensitive information or executing malicious actions based on the false interface presented to them. The vulnerability particularly affects users who frequently access Office documents on mobile devices, creating a significant risk for enterprise environments where mobile productivity tools are extensively used. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1566 (Phishing) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) where the initial deception enables subsequent attack vectors. The impact is exacerbated by the mobile environment's inherent trust models, where users typically have less suspicion when interacting with familiar application interfaces, making the spoofing attack more effective.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-23391 should focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Microsoft has released patches addressing the core rendering and validation issues within the Office for Android applications, requiring users to update to the latest versions of the mobile Office suite. Organizations should implement comprehensive mobile device management policies that enforce automatic updates and monitor for unauthorized modifications to Office applications. Security awareness training programs should emphasize the importance of verifying application authenticity and recognizing potential spoofing indicators, particularly when encountering unexpected interface behavior or document previews. Network-level defenses including content filtering and mobile threat protection solutions can help detect and block malicious documents that attempt to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies and maintaining strict control over document distribution channels can significantly reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability underscores the importance of robust input validation and proper sandboxing mechanisms in mobile application security, particularly in enterprise environments where mobile productivity tools serve as primary interfaces for business operations and data access.