Microsoft Office Word File Processing CVE-2014-0260 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Description

Microsoft Office is prone to a remote code-execution vulnerability because it fails to properly handle objects in memory. 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 Office Compatibility Pack Service Pack 3
• Microsoft Office Web Apps 2010 SP1
• Microsoft Office Web Apps 2010 SP2
• Microsoft Office Web Apps Server 2013
• Microsoft Word 2003 SP3
• Microsoft Word 2007 SP3
• Microsoft Word 2010 Service Pack 1 32-bit editions
• Microsoft Word 2010 Service Pack 1 64-bit editions
• Microsoft Word 2010 Service Pack 2 (32-bit editions)
• Microsoft Word 2010 Service Pack 2 (64-bit editions)
• Microsoft Word 2013 (32-bit editions)
• Microsoft Word 2013 (64-bit editions)
• Microsoft Word 2013 RT
• Microsoft Word Automation Services on Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 SP1
• Microsoft Word Automation Services on Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 SP2
• Microsoft Word Automation Services on Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013
• Microsoft Word Viewer

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.