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National Cyber Alert System
Technical Cyber Security Alert TA06-073Aarchive

Microsoft Office and Excel Vulnerabilities

Original release date: March 14, 2006
Last revised: --
Source: US-CERT

Systems Affected

  • Microsoft Office for Windows and Mac OS X
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows and Mac OS X
  • Microsoft Works Suite for Windows

For more complete information, refer to the Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for March 2006.


Overview

Microsoft has released updates that address critical vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office and Excel. Exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service on a vulnerable system.


I. Description

Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for March 2006 addresses vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office and Excel. Further information is available in the following US-CERT Vulnerability Notes:

VU#339878 - Microsoft Excel malformed parsing format file memory corruption vulnerability

Microsoft Excel contains a memory corruption vulnerability. This vulnerability may allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system.
(CVE-2006-0028)

VU#104302 - Microsoft Excel malformed record memory corruption vulnerability

Microsoft Excel fails to properly validate records. This vulnerability may allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system.
(CVE-2006-0031)

VU#123222 - Microsoft Excel malformed graphic memory corruption vulnerability

Microsoft Excel fails to properly validate graphics. This vulnerability may allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system.
(CVE-2006-0030)

VU#235774 - Microsoft Excel malformed description memory corruption vulnerability

Microsoft Excel fails to properly validate the description field. This vulnerability may allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system.
(CVE-2006-0029)

VU#642428 - Microsoft Excel fails to properly perform range validation when parsing document files

Microsoft Excel contains an error in range validation, which may allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system.
(CVE-2005-4131)

VU#682820 - Microsoft Office routing slip buffer overflow

Microsoft Office contains a buffer overflow in the parsing of routing slips, which may allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system.
(CVE-2006-0009)


II. Impact

A remote, unauthenticated attacker could execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user. If the user is logged on with administrative privileges, the attacker could take complete control of an affected system. An attacker may also be able to cause a denial of service.


III. Solution

Apply Updates

Microsoft has provided the updates for these vulnerabilities in the Security Bulletins and on the Microsoft Update site.

Workarounds

Please see the following US-CERT Vulnerability Notes for workarounds.

Appendix A. References


Feedback can be directed to the US-CERT Technical Staff.

Produced 2006 by US-CERT, a government organization. Terms of use

Revision History

March 14, 2006: Initial release
Last updated February 08, 2008