Microsoft Office up to Online Server Word code injection

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Microsoft Office 365 Apps for Enterprise/2016 for Mac/2019/2019 for Mac/Online Server. This impacts an unknown function of the component Word. Such manipulation leads to code injection. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2020-1338. The attack may be performed from remote. There is no available exploit. Applying a patch is advised to resolve this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Office 365 Apps for Enterprise/2016 for Mac/2019/2019 for Mac/Online Server (Office Suite Software). It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is an unknown code block of the component Word. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a code injection vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-94. The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

<p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Word software when it fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could use a specially crafted file to perform actions in the security context of the current user. For example, the file could then take actions on behalf of the logged-on user with the same permissions as the current user.</p> <p>To exploit the vulnerability, a user must open a specially crafted file with an affected version of Microsoft Word software. In an email attack scenario, an attacker could exploit the vulnerability by sending the specially crafted file to the user and convincing the user to open the file. In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a website (or leverage a compromised website that accepts or hosts user-provided content) that contains a specially crafted file that is designed to exploit the vulnerability. However, an attacker would have no way to force the user to visit the website. Instead, an attacker would have to convince the user to click a link, typically by way of an enticement in an email or Instant Messenger message, and then convince the user to open the specially crafted file.</p> <p>The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Word handles files in memory.</p>

The weakness was presented 09/08/2020 as confirmed security update guide (Website). The advisory is shared for download at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. The public release was coordinated in cooperation with the vendor. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2020-1338. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1059. The advisory points out:

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Word software when it fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could use a specially crafted file to perform actions in the security context of the current user. For example, the file could then take actions on behalf of the logged-on user with the same permissions as the current user.

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

See VDB-160926 for similar entry. VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

Type

• Office Suite Software

Vendor

• Microsoft

Name

• Office

Version

• 365 Apps for Enterprise
• 2016 for Mac
• 2019
• 2019 for Mac
• Online Server

License

• commercial

Website

• Vendor: https://www.microsoft.com/

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Entryinfo

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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