iDefense Security Advisory 08.11.09 http://labs.idefense.com/intelligence/vulnerabilities/ Aug 11, 2009 I. BACKGROUND Office Web Components is a group of ActiveX controls that can be used to view and edit Microsoft Office files such as spreadsheets and charts. It is commonly used to allow a user to edit a spreadsheet in the browser. The controls are installed with a default installation of Microsoft Office. More information can be found at the vendor's website at the following address. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=982B0359-0A86-4FB2-A7EE-5F3A499515DD II. DESCRIPTION Remote exploitation of a stack based buffer overflow vulnerability in Microsoft Corp.'s Office Web Components 2000 could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged on user. When instantiating a Spreadsheet object, it is possible to pass the object a parameter that refers to an Excel file that will be retrieved and then loaded. By using a long string for the parameter, it is possible to case a stack based buffer overflow. III. ANALYSIS Exploitation results in the execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-on user. Exploitation would require that an attacker hosts a maliciously crafted page on a Web site and entice users to visit the site. No further action is needed other than following a link to a malicious Web page. IV. DETECTION iDefense has confirmed the existence of this vulnerability in Microsoft Office XP Service Pack 3. Microsoft reports that the following products are affected: Microsoft Office XP Service Pack 3 Microsoft Office 2000 Web Components SP3 Microsoft Office XP Web Components SP3 Microsoft BizTalk Server 2002 Visual Studio .NET 2003 Service Pack 1 V. WORKAROUND Setting the kill bit for the following CLSIDs will mitigate the threat from web based attacks conducted through Internet Explorer. The CLSID for the vulnerable control is: 0002E512-0000-0000-C000-000000000046 VI. VENDOR RESPONSE Microsoft has released a patch which addresses this issue. For more information, consult their advisory at the following URL: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS09-043.mspx VII. CVE INFORMATION The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project has assigned the name CVE-2009-1534 to this issue. This is a candidate for inclusion in the CVE list (http://cve.mitre.org/), which standardizes names for security problems. VIII. DISCLOSURE TIMELINE 03/17/2008 Initial vendor notification 03/17/2008 Initial vendor response 03/17/2008 PoC requested 03/17/2008 Poc sent 04/18/2008 Status update request sent 05/28/2008 Status update request sent 07/03/2008 Status update received, new case manager assigned 06/26/2009 Status update received, new case manager assigned 06/26/2009 Bulletin release scheduled for July 07/09/2009 Status update received, bulletin delayed 08/11/2009 Public disclosure by Microsoft IX. CREDIT This vulnerability was discovered by Sean Larsson, iDefense Labs. Get paid for vulnerability research http://labs.idefense.com/methodology/vulnerability/vcp.php Free tools, research and upcoming events http://labs.idefense.com/ X. LEGAL NOTICES Copyright © 2009 iDefense, Inc. Permission is granted for the redistribution of this alert electronically. It may not be edited in any way without the express written consent of iDefense. If you wish to reprint the whole or any part of this alert in any other medium other than electronically, please e-mail customerservice@xxxxxxxxxxxx for permission. Disclaimer: The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing based on currently available information. Use of the information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are no warranties with regard to this information. Neither the author nor the publisher accepts any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on, this information.
