Microsoft PowerPoint 2000/2002/2003/2004 code injection

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as very critical has been identified in Microsoft PowerPoint 2000/2002/2003/2004. This affects an unknown function. Executing a manipulation can lead to code injection. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2009-0556. The attack can be executed remotely. There is not any exploit available. It is suggested to disable the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Microsoft PowerPoint 2000/2002/2003/2004 (Presentation Software) and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects an unknown code block. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a code injection vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is 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. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2000 SP3, 2002 SP3, and 2003 SP3, and PowerPoint in Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a PowerPoint file with an OutlineTextRefAtom containing an an invalid index value that triggers memory corruption, as exploited in the wild in April 2009 by Exploit:Win32/Apptom.gen, aka "Memory Corruption Vulnerability."

The weakness was released 04/03/2009 by Marsu Pilami with 0-day as confirmed bulletin (Technet). The advisory is available at microsoft.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2009-0556 since 02/12/2009. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not available. This vulnerability is assigned to T1059 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

It is declared as attacked. As 0-day the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 800382 , which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 110094 (Microsoft Office PowerPoint Could Allow Remote Code Execution (MS09-017)). This issue was added on 01/07/2026 to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog with a due date of 01/28/2026:

Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at microsoft.com. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 6944.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (49632), Zero-Day.cz (167), Tenable (800382), EUVD (EUVD-2009-0560) and SecurityFocus (BID 34351†). Entries connected to this vulnerability are available at VDB-3971, VDB-3973, VDB-3972 and VDB-3974. 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: 6.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.0

VulDB Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Code injection
CWE: CWE-94 / CWE-74 / CWE-707
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Attacked

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

KEV Added: 🔍
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KEV Remediation: 🔍
KEV Ransomware: 🔍
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Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 800382
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 64172
OpenVAS Name: Ubuntu USN-771-1 (libmodplug)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Saint ID: exploit_info/powerpoint_invalid_object
Saint Name: Microsoft PowerPoint invalid object reference vulnerability

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Zero-Day.cz: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Disable
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Patch: microsoft.com
TippingPoint: 🔍

McAfee IPS: 🔍
McAfee IPS Version: 🔍

PaloAlto IPS: 🔍
Fortigate IPS: 🔍

Timelineinfo

02/12/2009 🔍
04/02/2009 +49 days 🔍
04/02/2009 +0 days 🔍
04/03/2009 +1 days 🔍
04/03/2009 +0 days 🔍
04/03/2009 +0 days 🔍
04/03/2009 +0 days 🔍
04/03/2009 +0 days 🔍
04/05/2009 +1 days 🔍
04/06/2009 +1 days 🔍
04/07/2009 +1 days 🔍
01/08/2026 +6120 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: microsoft.com
Researcher: Marsu Pilami
Organization: 0-day
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2009-0556 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2009-0556
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-3946
EUVD: 🔍

OVAL: 🔍
IAVM: 🔍

CERT: 🔍
X-Force: 49632 - Microsoft PowerPoint index value code execution, High Risk
SecurityFocus: 34351 - Microsoft PowerPoint File Parsing 'OutlineTextRefAtom' Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Secunia: 34572 - Microsoft PowerPoint OutlineTextRefAtom Parsing Vulnerability, Extremely Critical
OSVDB: 53182 - Microsoft Office PowerPoint PPT File Handling Unspecified Code Execution
SecurityTracker: 1021967 - Microsoft Office PowerPoint Invalid Object Access Bug Lets Remote Users Execute Arbitrary Code
Vulnerability Center: 21470 - [MS09-017] Microsoft PowerPoint Invalid Object Remote Code Execution via a Crafted PowerPoint File, Medium
Vupen: ADV-2009-0915

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 04/06/2009 10:44
Updated: 01/08/2026 23:09
Changes: 04/06/2009 10:44 (97), 06/05/2019 13:12 (12), 07/19/2024 16:24 (24), 01/05/2025 21:04 (2), 01/07/2026 21:42 (9), 01/07/2026 22:02 (1), 01/08/2026 23:09 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:A1F:103

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

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