Microsoft Excel up to 2019 for Mac memory corruption

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Excel up to 2019 for Mac. It has been rated as critical. The impacted element is an unknown function. Performing a manipulation results in memory corruption. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2020-0651. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. No exploit exists. It is suggested to install a patch to address this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Microsoft Excel up to 2019 for Mac (Spreadsheet Software). This affects an unknown function. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel software when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka 'Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-0650, CVE-2020-0653.

The weakness was disclosed 01/14/2020 as confirmed security update guide (Website). The advisory is shared at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. The public release has been coordinated in cooperation with Microsoft. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2020-0651. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available. The advisory points out:

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel software when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.

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

The entry VDB-148616 is pretty similar. Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Spreadsheet Software

Vendor

• Microsoft

Name

• Excel

Version

• 365 ProPlus
• 2010 SP2
• 2013 RT SP1
• 2016
• 2019
• 2019 for Mac

License

• commercial

Website

• Vendor: https://www.microsoft.com/

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Entryinfo

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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