CVE-2025-24057 in Office
Summary
by MITRE • 03/11/2025
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2025
The heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-24057 represents a critical security flaw within Microsoft Office applications that enables remote code execution under specific conditions. This vulnerability resides in the memory management mechanisms of Office software, specifically affecting how the application handles heap allocations during document processing operations. The flaw manifests when Office attempts to process malformed or specially crafted input data that exceeds the allocated buffer boundaries in heap memory, creating opportunities for malicious code injection. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited through local execution contexts, meaning that an attacker with minimal privileges or access to a user's system could potentially leverage this flaw to escalate their privileges or execute arbitrary code. Microsoft Office applications that are susceptible to this vulnerability include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, all of which utilize similar memory management patterns that could be exploited through various document formats and file types. The heap overflow occurs when the application fails to properly validate input data length or buffer boundaries, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious payload data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows established patterns found in heap-based buffer overflow attacks, where attackers craft malicious input that triggers the overflow condition during normal application processing. When Office attempts to parse the malicious data, it allocates memory on the heap for processing, but the insufficient bounds checking allows the attacker to overwrite critical memory structures including return addresses, function pointers, or other control data. This memory corruption can be leveraged to redirect program execution flow to malicious code injected into the heap memory space. The attack typically requires the user to open a specially crafted document or interact with a malicious file, making social engineering a common initial vector for exploitation. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in heap memory allocations. This weakness is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited without requiring network connectivity, making it a local privilege escalation vector that can be triggered through file-based attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-24057 extends beyond simple code execution capabilities, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and persistent access. Once an attacker gains code execution privileges through this vulnerability, they can establish backdoors, escalate privileges to system administrator levels, or deploy additional malware payloads. The vulnerability's presence in widely used Microsoft Office applications creates a significant risk across enterprise environments where users frequently open documents from various sources. Organizations may face unauthorized data access, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within their networks. The attack surface is particularly broad given that Microsoft Office is installed on millions of devices globally, making this vulnerability attractive to both nation-state actors and cybercriminal organizations. The exploitation requires minimal user interaction, typically limited to opening a malicious document, which makes it particularly effective for phishing campaigns and targeted attacks against specific organizations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-24057 should focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Microsoft has released security updates and patches to address this vulnerability, which should be deployed immediately across all affected systems. Organizations should implement application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted Office documents and enable macro security settings to prevent automatic execution of potentially malicious code. Network segmentation and monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual file processing activities or attempts to access system resources. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify systems that may be vulnerable to similar heap-based buffer overflow attacks. The implementation of exploit protection mechanisms including address space layout randomization, data execution prevention, and heap spraying protections can significantly reduce the effectiveness of exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding suspicious documents and verifying document sources before opening them. Organizations should also consider implementing zero-trust security models where all system interactions are verified and validated, reducing the attack surface available to exploit this type of vulnerability. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patches to ensure compatibility with existing business applications while maintaining security posture.