CVE-2017-0029 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability has been identified in various versions of Microsoft Office, including Microsoft Office 2010 SP2, Word 2010 SP2, Word 2013 RT SP1, and Word 2016, allowing remote attackers to cause a denial of service.

Understanding CVE-2017-0029

This CVE refers to the 'Microsoft Office Denial of Service Vulnerability' affecting multiple versions of Microsoft Office.

What is CVE-2017-0029?

The vulnerability in Microsoft Office versions mentioned can be exploited by remote attackers to cause a denial of service, specifically an application hang, by using a specially crafted Office document.

The Impact of CVE-2017-0029

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to render affected Microsoft Office applications unresponsive, leading to a denial of service condition.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-0029

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows remote attackers to trigger a denial of service (application hang) in Microsoft Office applications through a maliciously crafted Office document.

Affected Systems and Versions

Microsoft Office 2010 SP2
Word 2010 SP2
Word 2013 RT SP1
Word 2016

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can initiate the attack by using a specially crafted Office document to exploit the vulnerability.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-0029 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Microsoft promptly.
Educate users about the risks associated with opening unknown or suspicious Office documents.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Microsoft Office to the latest versions to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Implement email filtering to prevent malicious Office documents from reaching users.
Use security solutions that can detect and block malicious documents.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by Microsoft for Microsoft Office to address vulnerabilities like CVE-2017-0029.