CVE-2017-0006 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Microsoft Excel 2007 SP3, Office Compatibility Pack SP3, Excel Viewer, and Excel Services on SharePoint Server 2007 SP3 are affected by a vulnerability that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause memory corruption. This CVE, also known as 'Microsoft Office Memory Corruption Vulnerability,' was published on March 17, 2017.

Understanding CVE-2017-0006

This CVE involves a remote code execution vulnerability affecting various Microsoft Office products.

What is CVE-2017-0006?

CVE-2017-0006 is a vulnerability in Microsoft Excel 2007 SP3, Office Compatibility Pack SP3, Excel Viewer, and Excel Services on SharePoint Server 2007 SP3. Attackers can exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary code or induce memory corruption by using a specially crafted document, leading to a denial of service.

The Impact of CVE-2017-0006

The vulnerability poses a significant risk as it allows remote attackers to compromise the affected systems, potentially leading to unauthorized code execution and system instability.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-0006

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Microsoft Excel 2007 SP3, Office Compatibility Pack SP3, Excel Viewer, and Excel Services on SharePoint Server 2007 SP3 enables remote code execution and memory corruption through malicious documents.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Office
Vendor: Microsoft Corporation
Versions Affected: Excel 2007 SP3, Office Compatibility Pack SP3, Excel Viewer, and Excel Services on SharePoint Server 2007 SP3

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by tricking users into opening a specially crafted document, triggering the execution of arbitrary code or causing memory corruption.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-0006 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Microsoft promptly.
Educate users about the risks of opening unsolicited or suspicious documents.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement robust email filtering to block malicious attachments.
Regularly update antivirus software to detect and prevent known threats.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security updates from Microsoft and apply them to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities.