Microsoft Word 2000/2002 Rich Text Format cross site scripting

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.7$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as problematic has been discovered in Microsoft Word 2000/2002. Affected is an unknown function of the component Rich Text Format Handler. The manipulation results in cross site scripting. This vulnerability was named CVE-2002-1056. The attack may be performed from remote. There is no available exploit. A patch should be applied to remediate this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Microsoft Word 2000/2002 (Word Processing Software). Affected is an unknown functionality of the component Rich Text Format Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a cross site scripting vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-80. The product receives input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special characters such as "<", ">", and "&" that could be interpreted as web-scripting elements when they are sent to a downstream component that processes web pages. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Microsoft Outlook 2000 and 2002, when configured to use Microsoft Word as the email editor, does not block scripts that are used while editing email messages in HTML or Rich Text Format (RTF), which could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary scripts via an email that the user forwards or replies to.

The weakness was presented 05/16/2002 by Georgi Guninski with Microsoft as MS02-021 as confirmed bulletin (Technet). The advisory is available at microsoft.com. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2002-1056. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not available. This vulnerability is assigned to T1059.007 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 11325 (MS02-021: Word Mail Reply Arbitrary Script Execution (321804)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows : Microsoft Bulletins and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 110006 (Microsoft Outlook Script Execution Vulnerability (MS02-021)).

Applying the patch MS02-021 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at microsoft.com. A possible mitigation has been published before and not just after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (8708), Tenable (11325), SecurityFocus (BID 4397†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-1471†). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.1
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.7

VulDB Base Score: 8.1
VulDB Temp Score: 7.7
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Cross site scripting
CWE: CWE-80 / CWE-74 / CWE-707
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 11325
Nessus Name: MS02-021: Word Mail Reply Arbitrary Script Execution (321804)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Patch: MS02-021

Timelineinfo

03/31/2002 🔍
04/25/2002 +25 days 🔍
05/16/2002 +21 days 🔍
05/16/2002 +0 days 🔍
05/16/2002 +0 days 🔍
03/06/2003 +294 days 🔍
07/20/2003 +136 days 🔍
07/11/2014 +4009 days 🔍
09/10/2025 +4079 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: MS02-021
Researcher: Georgi Guninski
Organization: Microsoft
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2002-1056 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2002-1056
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-18138

OVAL: 🔍

X-Force: 8708
SecurityFocus: 4397 - Microsoft Outlook HTML Mail Script Execution Vulnerability
Vulnerability Center: 1471 - [MS02-021] Microsoft Outlook Configured with Word Email Editor Allows Script Execution, Medium

Entryinfo

Created: 07/11/2014 13:58
Updated: 09/10/2025 05:15
Changes: 07/11/2014 13:58 (61), 05/10/2019 18:56 (13), 09/10/2025 05:15 (17)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:4B5:103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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