Remote code execution in Microsoft Word

1) Stack-based buffer overflow

EUVDB-ID: #VU1275

Risk: Critical

CVSSv4.0: 8.6 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:A/U:Red]

CVE-ID: CVE-2008-4841

CWE-ID: CWE-121 - Stack-based buffer overflow

Exploit availability: Yes

Description

The vulnerability alows a remote authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system.

The weakness exists due to stack overflow when parsing a malicious document. A remote attacker can create a specially crafted Word file containing a malformed list structure, trick the victim into opening it, trigger memory corruption and execute arbitrary code on the target system with privileges of the current user

Successful exploitation of the vulnerability results in arbitrary code execution on the vulnerable system.

Note: the vulnerability was being actively exploited.

Mitigation

Install update from vendor's website:

Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4:
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=552d322a-5282-42c7-9c1e-1d8c494a7318
Windows XP Service Pack 2:
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=50a8519a-503e-43dd-a78a-c1bc764fd213
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2:
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=323f4211-5add-4e02-bce1-e5a1b489982c
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2:
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=2233a4d2-7c8a-4c89-b020-100d9afb43c8
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition and Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2:
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=323f4211-5add-4e02-bce1-e5a1b489982c
Windows Server 2003 with SP1 for Itanium-based Systems and Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems:
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=e840b9cb-f1f4-482a-aa07-eb6b42b477c4

Vulnerable software versions

Windows: XP - 2000

Windows Server: 2003

CPE2.3

• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:XP:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

External links

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/security/ms09-010.aspx

Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Yes. This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote non-authenticated attacker via the Internet.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

Yes. This vulnerability is being exploited in the wild.