Microsoft Outlook Memory Corruption Vulnerability

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that Microsoft Outlook parses specially crafted email messages. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.

The vulnerability is caused when Microsoft Outlook processes specially crafted messages that will allow script execution.

An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code as the logged-on user. If a user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. 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 an email attack scenario, an attacker could exploit the vulnerability by sending a specially crafted email message to the user and then convincing the user to open the email.

Exploitation of this vulnerability requires that a user open a specially crafted email message with an affected version of Microsoft Outlook.

The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting the way that Microsoft Outlook parses specially crafted malicious email messages.

Systems such as workstations and terminal servers where Microsoft Outlook is used at risk. Servers could be at more risk if administrators allow users to log on to servers and to run programs. However, best practices strongly discourage allowing this.