Vulnerability Note VU#235774

Microsoft Excel malformed description memory corruption vulnerability

Overview

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

I. Description

Microsoft Excel fails to properly validate description fields in Excel data files. When a file with a malformed description 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.

II. Impact

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

III. 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.

Systems Affected

Vendor	Status	Date Notified	Date Updated
Microsoft Corporation	Vulnerable	14-Mar-2006

References

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

Credit

This issue was reported in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-012. Microsoft credits Dejun of the Fortinet Security Response Team with providing information regarding these issues.

This document was written by Jeff Gennari.

Other Information

Date Public:	2006-03-14
Date First Published:	2006-03-14
Date Last Updated:	2006-03-14
CERT Advisory:
CVE-ID(s):	CVE-2006-0029
NVD-ID(s):	CVE-2006-0029
US-CERT Technical Alerts:
Metric:	30.37
Document Revision:	14

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Produced 2006 by US-CERT, a government organization
Disclaimers and copyright information

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