Vulnerability Note VU#642428

Microsoft Excel fails to properly perform range validation when parsing document files

Overview

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

I. Description

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

II. Impact

By convincing a user to open a specially crafted Excel file, a remote unauthenticated attacker may be able to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system.

III. Solution

Install an update

Install an update, as specified 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 Updated
Microsoft Corporation	Vulnerable	14-Mar-2006

References

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS06-012.mspx
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/15780
http://securitytracker.com/id?1015333
http://xforce.iss.net/xforce/xfdb/23537
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1899697,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03129TX1K0000614

Credit

This vulnerability was publicly disclosed by fearwall.

This document was written by Will Dormann.

Other Information

Date Public	12/07/2005
Date First Published	03/14/2006 03:47:24 PM
Date Last Updated	03/14/2006
CERT Advisory
CVE Name	CVE-2005-4131
US-CERT Technical Alerts
Metric	16.45
Document Revision	7

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Produced 2006 by US-CERT, a government organization
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