FortiGuard Center

FortiGuard Advisory (FGA-2007-01)

Improper Memory Access Vulnerability in Microsoft Excel
2007.January.09

Fortinet Security Research Team (FSRT) has discovered an Improper Memory Access Vulnerability in Microsoft Excel.

Summary:

A remote Improper Memory Access Vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel which could allow an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability to take complete control of the affected system.

Risk:

  • Critical

Affected Software:

  • Microsoft Office 2000 Service Pack 3
    • Microsoft Excel 2000
  • Microsoft Office XP Service Pack 3
    • Microsoft Excel 2002
  • Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 2
    • Microsoft Excel 2003
    • Microsoft Office Excel Viewer 2003
  • Microsoft Works Suites:
    • Microsoft Works Suite 2004 (same as the Microsoft Excel 2002 update)
    • Microsoft Works Suite 2005 (same as the Microsoft Excel 2002 update)
    • Microsoft Works Suite 2006 (same as the Microsoft Excel 2002 update)
  • Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac
  • Microsoft Office v. X for Mac

Non-Affected Software:

  • 2007 Microsoft Office system
    • Microsoft Office Excel 2007

Additional Information:

A remote attacker could construct a .xls file and put it on a controlled website. When the user opens the .xls file with the Microsoft Internet Explorer, the browser will automatically call Microsoft Excel to open the .xls file. And if specially crafted, this will cause Microsoft Excel to crash; then, the .xls may allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code.

This vulnerability is due to Microsoft Excel's manipulation of specific opcode.

Solution:

  • Microsoft Office users should apply the update provided by Microsoft.
  • Do not open Microsoft Office Excel files from untrusted source.

Credits:

  • Jie Ma of Fortinet Security Research Team

References:



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About Fortinet ( www.fortinet.com ):

Fortinet is the pioneer and leading provider of ASIC-accelerated unified threat management, or UTM, security systems, which are used by enterprises and service providers to increase their security while reducing total operating costs. Fortinet solutions were built from the ground up to integrate multiple levels of security protection--including firewall, antivirus, intrusion prevention, VPN, spyware prevention and anti-spam -- designed to help customers protect against network and content level threats. Leveraging a custom ASIC and unified interface, Fortinet solutions offer advanced security functionality that scales from remote office to chassis-based solutions with integrated management and reporting. Fortinet solutions have won multiple awards around the world and are the only security products that are certified in six programs by ICSA Labs: (Firewall, Antivirus, IPSec, SSL, Network IPS, and Anti-Spyware). Fortinet is privately held and based in Sunnyvale, California.