Microsoft Publisher does not adequately validate Publisher documents

Overview

Microsoft Publisher does not adequately validate Publisher documents. This results in a buffer overflow vulnerability that could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running Publisher.

Description

Microsoft Publisher does not adequately validate strings within Publisher documents. Based on CT12-09-2006-2, the strings may be related to font information. The inadequate validation could allow a buffer overflow to occur. This vulnerability could be triggered when a user opens a specially crafted Publisher document.

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Impact

By convincing a user to open a specially crafted Publisher document, a remote, unauthenticated attacker could execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running Publisher.

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Solution

Apply Updates

Apply the appropriate updates (910729) referenced by Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-054. Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 910729 describes known issues that may be caused by applying the updates. Specifically, updated versions of Publisher are no longer able to open Publisher 2.0 files.

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Do not open untrusted documents

Do not open unfamiliar or unexpected Publisher or other Office documents, particularly those hosted on web sites or delivered as email attachments. Please see Cyber Security Tip ST04-010 for more information.

Do not rely on file name extension filtering

In most cases, Windows will call Publisher to open a document even if the document has an unknown file extension. For example, if document.qwer contains the correct file header information, Windows will open document.qwer with Publisher. Filtering for common extensions (e.g., .pub, .doc, .dot, .rtf) may not detect all Publisher documents.

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Vendor Information

406236

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Updated: September 12, 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 Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-054.

If you have feedback, comments, or additional information about this vulnerability, please send us [email](<mailto:[email protected]?Subject=VU%23406236 Feedback>).

CVSS Metrics

Group	Score	Vector
Base
Temporal
Environmental

References

• <http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms06-054.mspx&gt;
• <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/924685&gt;
• <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894540/&gt;
• <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894541/&gt;
• <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894542/&gt;
• <http://www.computerterrorism.com/research/ct12-09-2006-2.htm&gt;

Acknowledgements

This vulnerability was reported by Microsoft, who in turn credit Stuart Pearson of Computer Terrorism.

This document was written by Art Manion.

Other Information

CVE IDs:	CVE-2006-0001
Severity Metric:	7.34 Date Public: