__________________________________________________________
The U.S. Department of Energy
Computer Incident Advisory Capability
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INFORMATION BULLETIN
Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Excel (934233)
[Microsoft Security Bulletin MS07-023 (934233)]
May 9, 2007 11:00 GMT Number R-230
[REVISED 17 May 2007]
[REVISED 21 May 2007]
______________________________________________________________________________
PROBLEM: Remote code execution vulnerabilities exist in the way Excel
handles:
1) files with malformed BIFF records;
2) Excel files with specially crafted set font values; and
3) Excel files with specially crafted filter records.
PLATFORM: Tested Software and Security Update Download Locations:
Affected Software:
• Microsoft Office 2000 Service Pack 3
• Microsoft Excel 2000
• Microsoft Office XP Service Pack 3
• Microsoft Excel 2002
• Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 2
• Microsoft Excel 2003
• Microsoft Excel 2003 Viewer
• 2007 Microsoft Office System
• Microsoft Office Excel 2007
• Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and
PowerPoint 2007 File Formats
• Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac
Non-Affected Software:
• Microsoft Works Suites:
• Microsoft Works Suite 2004
• Microsoft Works Suite 2005
• Microsoft Works Suite 2006
DAMAGE: Could allow remote code execution.
SOLUTION: Upgrade to the appropriate version.
______________________________________________________________________________
VULNERABILITY The risk is MEDIUM. Code would run in the context of the user.
ASSESSMENT:
______________________________________________________________________________
LINKS:
CIAC BULLETIN: http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/r-230.shtml
ORIGINAL BULLETIN: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS07-023.mspx
CVE: http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=
CVE-2007-0215 CVE-2007-1203 CVE-2007-1214
______________________________________________________________________________
REVISION HISTORY:
05/17/2007 - revised R-230 to reflect changes Microsoft has made in MS07-023 where
they updated "Installation File Information" section with the correct
file name for the Office 2007 Compatibility Pack.
05/21/2007 - revised R-230 to reflect changes Microsoft has made in MS07-023 where
they updated due to new issues discovered with the security update as
reflected in Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 934233.
[***** Start Microsoft Security Bulletin MS07-023 (934233) *****]
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS07-023
Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Excel Could Allow Remote Code Execution (934233)
Published: May 8, 2007 | Updated: May 17, 2007
Version: 1.2
Summary
Who Should Read this Document: Customers who use Microsoft Excel
Impact of Vulnerability: Remote Code Execution
Maximum Severity Rating: Critical
Recommendation: Customers should apply the update immediately
Security Update Replacement: This bulletin replaces a prior security update.
See the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section of this bulletin for details.
Caveats: None
Tested Software and Security Update Download Locations:
Affected Software:
• Microsoft Office 2000 Service Pack 3
• Microsoft Excel 2000 - Download the update (KB934447)
• Microsoft Office XP Service Pack 3
• Microsoft Excel 2002 - Download the update (KB934453)
• Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 2
• Microsoft Excel 2003 - Download the update (KB933666)
• Microsoft Excel 2003 Viewer - Download the update (KB934445)
• 2007 Microsoft Office System
• Microsoft Office Excel 2007 - Download the update (KB934670)
• Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File
Formats - Download the update (KB933688)
• Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac - Download the update (KB936749)
Non-Affected Software:
• Microsoft Works Suites:
• Microsoft Works Suite 2004
• Microsoft Works Suite 2005
• Microsoft Works Suite 2006
The software in this list has been tested to determine whether the versions are
affected. Other versions are either past their support life cycle or are not
affected. To determine the support life cycle for your product and version, visit
the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Web site.
Top of section
General Information
Executive Summary
Executive Summary:
This update resolves several newly discovered, privately reported vulnerabilities.
Each vulnerability is documented in its own subsection in the Vulnerability Details
section of this bulletin.
We recommend that customers apply the update immediately.
Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers:
Vulnerability Identifiers Impact of Vulnerability Microsoft Excel 2000 Service Pack
3 Microsoft Excel 2002 Service Pack 3 Microsoft Excel 2003 Service Pack 2 Microsoft
Excel 2003 Viewer Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and Microsoft Office Compatibility
Pack Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac
Excel BIFF Record Vulnerability - CVE-2007-0215
Remote Code Execution
Critical
Important
Important
Important
None
None
Excel Set Font Vulnerability - CVE-2007-1203
Remote Code Execution
Critical
Important
Important
Important
Important
Important
Excel Filter Record Vulnerability CVE-2007-1214
Remote Code Execution
Critical
Important
Important
Important
None
Important
Aggregate Severity of All Vulnerabilities
Critical
Important
Important
Important
Important
Important
This assessment is based on the types of systems that are affected by the
vulnerability, their typical deployment patterns, and the effect that
exploiting the vulnerability would have on them.
Vulnerability Details
Excel BIFF Record Vulnerability - CVE-2007-0215:
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way Excel handles
files with malformed BIFF records. Such a file might be included in an
e-mail attachment or hosted on a malicious Web site. An attacker could
exploit the vulnerability by constructing a specially crafted Excel file
that could allow remote code execution.
Mitigating Factors for Excel BIFF Record Vulnerability - CVE-2007-0215:
• An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain
the same user rights as the local user. Users whose accounts are
configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less
impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.
• In a Web-based attack scenario, an attacker would have to host a Web site
that contains an Office file that is used to attempt to exploit this
vulnerability. In addition, compromised Web sites and Web sites that
accept or host user-provided content could contain specially crafted
content that could exploit this vulnerability. An attacker would have no
way to force users to visit a specially crafted Web site. Instead, an
attacker would have to persuade them to visit the Web site, typically by
getting them to click a link that takes them to the attacker's site.
• The vulnerability cannot be exploited automatically through e-mail. For an
attack to be successful a user must open an attachment that is sent in an
e-mail message.
• Users who have installed and are using the Office Document Open
Confirmation Tool for Office 2000 will be prompted with Open, Save, or
Cancel before opening a document. The features of the Office Document
Open Confirmation Tool are incorporated in Office XP and Office 2003.
Excel Set Font Vulnerability - CVE-2007-1203:
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way Excel handles
Excel files with specially crafted set font values. Such a file might
be included in an e-mail attachment or hosted on a malicious Web site.
An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by constructing a specially
crafted Excel file that could allow remote code execution.
Mitigating Factors for Excel Set Font Vulnerability - CVE-2007-1203:
• An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain
the same user rights as the local user. Users whose accounts are
configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less
impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.
• In a Web-based attack scenario, an attacker would have to host a Web
site that contains an Office file that is used to attempt to exploit
this vulnerability. In addition, compromised Web sites and Web sites
that accept or host user-provided content could contain specially
crafted content that could exploit this vulnerability. An attacker
would have no way to force users to visit a specially crafted Web
site. Instead, an attacker would have to persuade them to visit the
Web site, typically by getting them to click a link that takes them
to the attacker's site.
• The vulnerability cannot be exploited automatically through e-mail.
For an attack to be successful a user must open an attachment that
is sent in an e-mail message.
• Users who have installed and are using the Office Document Open
Confirmation Tool for Office 2000 will be prompted with Open, Save,
or Cancel before opening a document. The features of the Office
Document Open Confirmation Tool are incorporated in Office XP and
Office 2003.
Excel Filter Record Vulnerability CVE-2007-1214:
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way Excel handles
Excel files with specially crafted filter records. Such a file might be
included in an e-mail attachment or hosted on a malicious Web site. An
attacker could exploit the vulnerability by constructing a specially
crafted Excel file that could allow remote code execution.
Mitigating Factors for Excel Filter Record Vulnerability CVE-2007-1214:
• An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain
the same user rights as the local user. Users whose accounts are
configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less
impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.
• In a Web-based attack scenario, an attacker would have to host a Web
site that contains an Office file that is used to attempt to exploit
this vulnerability. In addition, compromised Web sites and Web sites
that accept or host user-provided content could contain specially
crafted content that could exploit this vulnerability. An attacker
would have no way to force users to visit a specially crafted Web
site. Instead, an attacker would have to persuade them to visit the
Web site, typically by getting them to click a link that takes them
to the attacker's site.
• The vulnerability cannot be exploited automatically through e-mail.
For an attack to be successful a user must open an attachment that
is sent in an e-mail message.
• Users who have installed and are using the Office Document Open
Confirmation Tool for Office 2000 will be prompted with Open, Save,
or Cancel before opening a document. The features of the Office
Document Open Confirmation Tool are incorporated in Office XP and
Office 2003.
Security Update Information
Affected Software:
For information about the specific security update for your affected
software, click the appropriate link:
Excel 2000
Excel 2002
Excel 2003 and Excel 2003 Viewer
Excel 2007 and the Office Compatibility Pack
Office 2004 for Mac
Acknowledgments
Microsoft thanks the following for working with us to help protect
customers:
• Manuel Santamarina Suarez, working with TippingPoint and the Zero
Day Initiative, for reporting the Excel BIFF Record Vulnerability
(CVE-2007-0215)
• Greg MacManus of iDefense Labs for reporting the Excel Filter
Record Vulnerability (CVE-2007-1214)
Obtaining Other Security Updates:
Updates for other security issues are available at the following
locations:
• Security updates are available at the Microsoft Download Center. You
can find them most easily by doing a keyword search for "security_patch."
• Updates for consumer platforms are available at the Microsoft Update Web
site.
Support:
• Customers in the U.S. and Canada can receive technical support from
Microsoft Product Support Services at 1-866-PCSAFETY. There is no charge
for support calls that are associated with security updates.
• International customers can receive support from their local Microsoft
subsidiaries. There is no charge for support that is associated with
security updates. For more information about how to contact Microsoft for
support issues, visit the International Support Web site.
Security Resources:
• The Microsoft TechNet Security Web site provides additional information
about security in Microsoft products.
• TechNet Update Management Center
• Microsoft Software Update Services
• Microsoft Windows Server Update Services
• Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA)
• Windows Update
• Microsoft Update
• Windows Update Catalog: For more information about the Windows Update
Catalog, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 323166.
• Office Update
Software Update Services:
By using Microsoft Software Update Services (SUS), administrators can quickly
and reliably deploy the latest critical updates and security updates to
Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003-based servers, and to desktop systems
that are running Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP Professional.
For more information about how to deploy security updates by using Software
Update Services, visit the Software Update Services Web site.
Windows Server Update Services:
By using Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), administrators can quickly and
reliably deploy the latest critical updates and security updates for Windows
2000 operating systems and later, Office XP and later, Exchange Server 2003,
and SQL Server 2000 onto Windows 2000 and later operating systems.
For more information about how to deploy security updates using Windows Server
Update Services, visit the Windows Server Update Services Web site.
Systems Management Server:
Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) delivers a highly configurable
enterprise solution for managing updates. By using SMS, administrators can
identify Windows-based systems that require security updates and can perform
controlled deployment of these updates throughout the enterprise with minimal
disruption to end users. For more information about how administrators can use
SMS 2003 to deploy security updates, visit the SMS 2003 Security Patch Management
Web site. SMS 2.0 users can also use Software Updates Service Feature Pack to
help deploy security updates. For information about SMS, visit the SMS Web site.
Note SMS uses the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer, the Microsoft Office
Detection Tool, and the Enterprise Update Scan Tool to provide broad support for
security bulletin update detection and deployment. Some software updates may not
be detected by these tools. Administrators can use the inventory capabilities of
the SMS in these cases to target updates to specific systems. For more
information about this procedure, visit the following Web site. Some security
updates require administrative rights following a restart of the system.
Administrators can use the Elevated Rights Deployment Tool (available in the SMS
2003 Administration Feature Pack and in the SMS 2.0 Administration Feature Pack)
to install these updates.
Disclaimer:
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.
Revisions:
• V1.0 (May 8, 2007): Bulletin published.
• V1.1 (May 16, 2007): Bulletin “Installation File Information” section updated
with the correct file name for the Office 2007 Compatibility Pack.
• V1.2 (May 17, 2007): This Bulletin has been revised due to new issues discovered
with the security update as reflected in Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 934233.
[***** End Microsoft Security Bulletin MS07-023 (934233) *****]
_______________________________________________________________________________
CIAC wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Microsoft for the
information contained in this bulletin.
_______________________________________________________________________________
CIAC, the Computer Incident Advisory Capability, is the computer
security incident response team for the U.S. Department of Energy
(DOE) and the emergency backup response team for the National
Institutes of Health (NIH). CIAC is located at the Lawrence Livermore
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This document was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an
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employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any
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