Microsoft Office 2016 on Mac AutoUpdate input validation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.3$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Microsoft Office 2016 on Mac. The affected element is an unknown function of the component AutoUpdate. This manipulation causes input validation. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2018-8412. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. No exploit exists. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Microsoft Office 2016 on Mac (Office Suite Software). Affected by this vulnerability is some unknown functionality of the component AutoUpdate. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a input validation vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-20. The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Microsoft AutoUpdate (MAU) application for Mac improperly validates updates before executing them, aka "Microsoft (MAU) Office Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability." This affects Microsoft Office.

The bug was discovered 08/14/2018. The weakness was disclosed 08/14/2018 by CodeColorist as confirmed security update guide (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. The public release has been coordinated in cooperation with Microsoft. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2018-8412 since 03/14/2018. The exploitation appears to be difficult. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not publicly available. The advisory points out:

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Microsoft AutoUpdate (MAU) application for Mac improperly validates updates before executing them. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability who already has the ability to execute code on a system could elevate privileges.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 111682 (Security Update for Microsoft Office (Auguest 2018) (macOS)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family MacOS X Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 110322 (Microsoft Office and Microsoft Office Services and Web Apps Security Update August 2018).

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (111682) and SecurityFocus (BID 105014†). The entries VDB-122870, VDB-122871, VDB-122872 and VDB-122873 are pretty similar. Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.3

VulDB Base Score: 5.0
VulDB Temp Score: 4.8
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

Class: Input validation
CWE: CWE-20
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 111682
Nessus Name: Security Update for Microsoft Office (Auguest 2018) (macOS)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
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Timelineinfo

03/14/2018 🔍
08/14/2018 +152 days 🔍
08/14/2018 +0 days 🔍
08/14/2018 +0 days 🔍
08/14/2018 +0 days 🔍
08/14/2018 +0 days 🔍
08/14/2018 +0 days 🔍
08/15/2018 +0 days 🔍
05/02/2023 +1721 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: portal.msrc.microsoft.com
Researcher: CodeColorist
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍
Coordinated: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2018-8412 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2018-8412
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-122887
SecurityFocus: 105014 - Microsoft Office CVE-2018-8412 Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
SecurityTracker: 1041484

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 08/14/2018 22:00
Updated: 05/02/2023 08:44
Changes: 08/14/2018 22:00 (77), 03/15/2020 15:59 (6), 05/02/2023 08:44 (4)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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