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Microsoft Excel malformed parsing format file memory corruption vulnerability

Vulnerability Note VU#339878

Original Release Date: 2006-03-14 | Last Revised: 2006-03-14

Overview

Microsoft Excel contains a memory corruption vulnerability. This vulnerability may allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system.

Description

Microsoft Excel fails to properly validate parsing format files. When a file with a malformed parsing format files is opened in Excel, system memory can be corrupted in a way that may allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code.

More information is available in MS06-012

Impact

A remote unauthenticated attacker may be able to execute arbitrary code.

Solution

Apply a patch from your vendor
Microsoft addresses this vulnerability with the updates listed in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-012


Do not access Excel files from untrusted sources

By only accessing Excel files, such as spreadsheets, from trusted or known sources, the chances of exploitation are reduced.

Vendor Information

339878
 

Microsoft Corporation Affected

Updated:  March 14, 2006

Status

Affected

Vendor Statement

We have not received a statement from the vendor.

Vendor Information

The vendor has not provided us with any further information regarding this vulnerability.

Addendum

Please see http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS06-012.mspx.

If you have feedback, comments, or additional information about this vulnerability, please send us email.


CVSS Metrics

Group Score Vector
Base
Temporal
Environmental

References

Acknowledgements

This issue was reported in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-012. Microsoft credits TippingPoint and the Zero Day Initiative with providing information regarding these issues.

This document was written by Jeff Gennari.

Other Information

CVE IDs: CVE-2006-0028
Severity Metric: 22.50
Date Public: 2006-03-14
Date First Published: 2006-03-14
Date Last Updated: 2006-03-14 20:00 UTC
Document Revision: 12

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