Microsoft Excel CVE-2018-0796 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Description

Microsoft Excel is prone to a remote code-execution vulnerability. An attacker can leverage this issue to execute arbitrary code in the context of the currently logged-in user. Failed exploit attempts will likely result in denial of service conditions.

Technologies Affected

• Microsoft Excel 2007 SP3
• Microsoft Excel 2010 Service Pack 2 (32-bit editions)
• Microsoft Excel 2010 Service Pack 2 (64-bit editions)
• Microsoft Excel 2013 RT Service Pack 1
• Microsoft Excel 2013 Service Pack 1 (32-bit editions)
• Microsoft Excel 2013 Service Pack 1 (64-bit editions)
• Microsoft Excel 2016 (32-bit editions)
• Microsoft Excel 2016 (64-bit editions)
• Microsoft Excel 2016 Click-to-Run (C2R) for 32-bit edition
• Microsoft Excel 2016 Click-to-Run (C2R) for 64-bit edition
• Microsoft Excel Viewer 2007 Service Pack 3
• Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack SP3

Recommendations

Run all software as a nonprivileged user with minimal access rights.
To reduce the impact of latent vulnerabilities, always run nonadministrative software as an unprivileged user with minimal access rights.

Deploy network intrusion detection systems to monitor network traffic for malicious activity.
Deploy NIDS to monitor network traffic for signs of suspicious or anomalous activity. This may help detect malicious actions that an attacker may take after successfully exploiting vulnerabilities in applications. Review all applicable logs regularly.

Do not accept or execute files from untrusted or unknown sources.
To reduce the likelihood of successful exploits, never handle files that originate from unfamiliar or untrusted sources.

Do not follow links provided by unknown or untrusted sources.
Web users should be cautious about following links to sites that are provided by unfamiliar or suspicious sources. Filtering HTML from emails may help remove a possible vector for transmitting malicious links to users.

Implement multiple redundant layers of security.
Since this issue may be leveraged to execute code, we recommend memory-protection schemes, such as nonexecutable stack/heap configurations and randomly mapped memory segments. This tactic may complicate exploits of memory-corruption vulnerabilities.

Updates are available. Please see the references or vendor advisory for more information.