- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Buffer Overrun in WordPerfect Converter Could Allow Code Execution (827103) Date: 03 September 2003 Software: Microsoft Office 97 Microsoft Office 2000 Microsoft Office XP Microsoft Word 98 (J) Microsoft FrontPage 2000 Microsoft FrontPage 2002 Microsoft Publisher 2000 Microsoft Publisher 2002 Microsoft Works Suite 2001 Microsoft Works Suite 2002 Microsoft Works Suite 2003 Impact: Run code of attacker's choice Max Risk: Important Bulletin: MS03-036 Microsoft encourages customers to review the Security Bulletins at: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-036.asp http://www.microsoft.com/security/security_bulletins/ms03-036.asp - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Issue: ====== Microsoft Office provides a number of converters that allow users to import and edit files that use formats that are not native to Office. These converters are available as part of the default installation of Office and are also available separately in the Microsoft Office Converter Pack. These converters can be useful to organizations that use Office in a mixed environment with earlier versions of Office and other applications, including Office for the Macintosh and third-party productivity applications. There is a flaw in the way that the Microsoft WordPerfect converter handles Corel(r) WordPerfect documents. A security vulnerability results because the converter does not correctly validate certain parameters when it opens a WordPerfect document, which results in an unchecked buffer. As a result, an attacker could craft a malicious WordPerfect document that could allow code of their choice to be executed if an application that used the WordPerfect converter opened the document. Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint (which are part of the Office suite), FrontPage (which is available as part of the Office suite or separately), Publisher, and Microsoft Works Suite can all use the Microsoft Office WordPerfect converter. The vulnerability could only be exploited by an attacker who persuaded a user to open a malicious WordPerfect document-there is no way for an attacker to force a malicious document to be opened or to trigger an attack automatically by sending an e-mail message. Mitigating Factors: ==================== - -The user must open the malicious document for an attacker to be successful. An attacker cannot force the document to be opened automatically. - -The vulnerability cannot be exploited automatically through e- mail. A user must open an attachment that is sent in an e-mail message for an e-mail-borne attack to be successful. Risk Rating: ============ - Important Patch Availability: =================== - A patch is available to fix this vulnerability. Please read the Security Bulletins at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms03-036.asp http://www.microsoft.com/security/security_bulletins/ms03-036.asp for information on obtaining this patch. Acknowledgment: =============== - eEye Digital Security, http://www.eeye.com - ----------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.