Title: Flaw
in Visual Basic for Applications Could Allow
Arbitrary Code Execution (822715)
Date: 03
September 2003
Affected Software:
Microsoft Visual Basic for
Applications SDK 5.0
Microsoft
Visual Basic for Applications SDK 6.0
Microsoft Visual Basic for
Applications SDK 6.2
Microsoft
Visual Basic for Applications SDK 6.3
Products which include
the affected software:
Microsoft Access 97
Microsoft Access 2000
Microsoft Access 2002
Microsoft Excel 97
Microsoft Excel 2000
Microsoft Excel 2002
Microsoft PowerPoint 97
Microsoft PowerPoint 2000
Microsoft PowerPoint 2002
Microsoft Project 2000
Microsoft Project 2002
Microsoft Publisher 2002
Microsoft Visio 2000
Microsoft Visio 2002
Microsoft Word 97
Microsoft Word 98(J)
Microsoft Word 2000
Microsoft Word 2002
Microsoft Works Suite 2001
Microsoft Works Suite 2002
Microsoft Works Suite 2003
Microsoft Business Solutions Great
Plains 7.5
Microsoft Business Solutions Dynamics
6.0
Microsoft Business Solutions Dynamics
7.0
Microsoft Business Solutions
eEnterprise 6.0
Microsoft Business Solutions
eEnterprise 7.0
Microsoft Business Solutions Solomon
4.5
Microsoft Business Solutions Solomon
5.0
Microsoft Business Solutions Solomon
5.5
Impact: Run
code of attackers choice
Max Risk: Critical
Bulletin: MS03-037
Microsoft encourages
customers to review the Security Bulletins
at:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-037.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/security/security_bulletins/ms03-037.asp
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Issue:
======
Microsoft VBA is a
development technology for developing client
desktop packaged
applications and integrating them with existing
data and systems.
Microsoft VBA is based on the Microsoft Visual
Basic development system.
Microsoft Office products include VBA
and make use of VBA to
perform certain functions. VBA can also be
used to build customized
applications based around an existing
host application.
A flaw exists in the way
VBA checks document properties passed to
it when a document is
opened by the host application. A buffer
overrun exists which if
exploited successfully could allow an
attacker to execute code
of their choice in the context of the
logged on user.
In order for an attack to
be successful, a user would have to
open a specially crafted
document sent to them by an attacker.
This document could be
any type of document that supports VBA,
such as a Word document,
Excel spreadsheet, PowerPoint
presentation. In the case
where Microsoft Word is being used as
the HTML e-mail editor
for Microsoft Outlook, this document could
be an e-mail, however the
user would need to reply to, or forward
the mail message in order
for the vulnerability to be exploited.
Mitigating Factors:
====================
- -The user must open a
document sent to them by an attacker in
order for this
vulnerability to be exploited.
- -When Microsoft Word is
being used as the HTML e-mail editor in
Outlook, a user would
need to reply to or forward a malicious e-
mail document sent to
them in order for this vulnerability to be
exploited.
- -An attacker's code
could only run with the same rights as the
logged on user. The
specific privileges the attacker could gain
through this
vulnerability would therefore depend on the
privileges granted to the
user. Any limitations on a user's
account, such as those
applied through Group Policies, would also
limit the actions of any
arbitrary code executed by this
vulnerability.
Risk Rating:
============
- Critical
Patch Availability:
===================
- A patch is available to fix this
vulnerability. Please read
the Security Bulletins at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms03-037.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/security/security_bulletins/ms03-037.asp
for information on
obtaining this patch.
Acknowledgment:
===============
- eEye Digital Security, http://www.eeye.com
-
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