Microsoft Excel 2002/2003 memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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9.1$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Microsoft Excel 2002/2003. This affects an unknown function. Executing a manipulation can lead to memory corruption. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2011-0104. Additionally, an exploit exists.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Excel 2002/2003 (Spreadsheet Software). It has been declared as very critical. This vulnerability affects an unknown code block. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is 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. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Microsoft Excel 2002 SP3 and 2003 SP3, Office 2004 and 2008 for Mac, and Open XML File Format Converter for Mac allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted HLink record in an Excel file, aka "Excel Buffer Overwrite Vulnerability."

The weakness was released 04/12/2011 by Rodrigo Rubira Branco with Check Point (Website). The advisory is shared for download at us-cert.gov. This vulnerability was named CVE-2011-0104. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 06/03/2025).

It is possible to download the exploit at securityfocus.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. As 0-day the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 53374 (MS11-021 / MS11-022 / MS11-023: Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office Could Allow Remote Code Execution (2489279 / 2489283 / 2489293) (Mac OS X)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family MacOS X Local Security Checks. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 110132 (Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities (MS11-021)).

A possible mitigation has been published before and not just after the disclosure of the vulnerability. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 4504.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (65588), Exploit-DB (35573), Tenable (53374), SecurityFocus (BID 47245†) and OSVDB (71761†). Entries connected to this vulnerability are available at VDB-4286, VDB-4289, VDB-54584 and VDB-56176. Once again VulDB remains the best 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: 10.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.1

VulDB Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Temp Score: 9.1
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 53374
Nessus Name: MS11-021 / MS11-022 / MS11-023: Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office Could Allow Remote Code Execution (2489279 / 2489283 / 2489293) (Mac OS X)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 902410
OpenVAS Name: Microsoft Office Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities (2489279)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍
TippingPoint: 🔍

McAfee IPS: 🔍
McAfee IPS Version: 🔍

SourceFire IPS: 🔍
PaloAlto IPS: 🔍
Fortigate IPS: 🔍

Timelineinfo

12/21/2010 🔍
04/12/2011 +112 days 🔍
04/12/2011 +0 days 🔍
04/12/2011 +0 days 🔍
04/12/2011 +0 days 🔍
04/13/2011 +0 days 🔍
04/13/2011 +0 days 🔍
04/13/2011 +0 days 🔍
03/23/2015 +1439 days 🔍
06/03/2025 +3725 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: us-cert.gov
Researcher: Rodrigo Rubira Branco
Organization: Check Point
Status: Not defined

CVE: CVE-2011-0104 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2011-0104
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-57076

OVAL: 🔍

X-Force: 65588
SecurityFocus: 47245 - Microsoft Excel CVE-2011-0104 Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
Secunia: 39122
OSVDB: 71761 - Microsoft Office Excel File Handling Memory Corruption
Vulnerability Center: 31053 - [MS11-021] Microsoft Excel Remote Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability due to Buffer Overflow, Critical

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

Entryinfo

Created: 03/23/2015 16:50
Updated: 06/03/2025 13:40
Changes: 03/23/2015 16:50 (68), 03/21/2017 10:10 (15), 11/02/2021 09:27 (3), 11/02/2021 09:29 (1), 06/03/2025 13:40 (19)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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