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Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-055 - Critical

Vulnerability in Microsoft Office Could Allow Remote Code Execution (955047)

Published: | Updated:

Version: 1.1

General Information

Executive Summary

This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Microsoft Office. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a user clicks a specially crafted OneNote URL. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an 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.

This security update is rated Critical for supported editions of Microsoft Office OneNote 2007 and rated Important for supported editions of Microsoft Office XP, Microsoft Office 2003, and 2007 Microsoft Office System. For more information, see the subsection, Affected and Non-Affected Software, in this section.

This security update addresses the vulnerability by modifying the way that Microsoft Office validates uniform resource locators. For more information about the vulnerability, see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) subsection for the specific vulnerability entry under the next section, Vulnerability Information.

Recommendation. Microsoft recommends that customers apply the update immediately.

Known Issues. None

Affected and Non-Affected Software

The following software have been tested to determine which versions or editions are affected. Other versions or editions are either past their support life cycle or are not affected. To determine the support life cycle for your software version or edition, visit Microsoft Support Lifecycle.

Affected Software

Office Suite and Other SoftwareMaximum Security ImpactAggregate Severity RatingBulletins Replaced by this Update
Microsoft Office Suites and Components
Microsoft Office XP Service Pack 3
(KB953405)
Remote Code ExecutionImportantMS08-016
Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 2
(KB953404)
Remote Code ExecutionImportantMS08-016
Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 3
(KB953404)
Remote Code ExecutionImportantNone
2007 Microsoft Office System
(KB951944)
Remote Code ExecutionImportantMS07-025
2007 Microsoft Office System Service Pack 1
(KB951944)
Remote Code ExecutionImportantNone
Other Office Software
Microsoft Office OneNote 2007
(KB950130)

Microsoft Office OneNote 2007 Service Pack 1
(KB950130)
Remote Code ExecutionCriticalNone

Non-Affected Software

Office and Other Software
Microsoft Office 2000 Service Pack 3
Microsoft Office OneNote 2003 Service Pack 2
Microsoft Office OneNote 2003 Service Pack 3
Microsoft Office PowerPoint Viewer 2003
Microsoft Office Word Viewer 2003
Microsoft Office Word Viewer 2003 Service Pack 3
Microsoft Office Excel Viewer 2003
Microsoft Office Excel Viewer 2003 Service Pack 3
Microsoft Office Excel Viewer
Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 Viewer
Microsoft Office PowerPoint Viewer 2007 Service Pack 1
Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats
Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats Service Pack 1
Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac
Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac
Microsoft Visual Studio 2008
Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1
Microsoft Expression Web
Microsoft Expression Web 2

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Related to This Security Update

Vulnerability Information

Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers

Uniform Resource Locator Validation Error Vulnerability - CVE-2008-3007

Update Information

Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance

Security Update Deployment

Other Information

Acknowledgments

Microsoft thanks the following for working with us to help protect customers:

  • Brett Moore of Insomnia Security for reporting the Uniform Resource Locator Validation Error Vulnerability (CVE-2008-3007).

Support

  • Customers in the U.S. and Canada can receive technical support from Microsoft Product Support Services at 1-866-PCSAFETY. There is no charge for support calls that are associated with security updates.
  • International customers can receive support from their local Microsoft subsidiaries. There is no charge for support that is associated with security updates. For more information about how to contact Microsoft for support issues, visit the International Support Web site.

Disclaimer

The information provided in the Microsoft Knowledge Base is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Microsoft disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event shall Microsoft Corporation or its suppliers be liable for any damages whatsoever including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, loss of business profits or special damages, even if Microsoft Corporation or its suppliers have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages so the foregoing limitation may not apply.

Revisions

  • V1.0 (September 9, 2008): Bulletin published.
  • V1.1 (September 10, 2008): Corrected the installation switches and deployment information for OneNote 2007, and added to the list of non-affected software. Also, updated FAQ entries explaining why this update is offered to systems with non-affected software.