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Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-026 - Critical

Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Word Could Allow Remote Code Execution (951207)

Published: | Updated:

Version: 1.1

General Information

Executive Summary

This security update resolves several privately reported vulnerabilities in Microsoft Word that could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted Word file. An attacker who successfully exploited these vulnerabilities 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 Word 2000 and Microsoft Outlook 2007 and rated Important for supported editions of Microsoft Word 2002; Microsoft Word 2003; Microsoft Word Viewer 2003 and Microsoft Word Viewer 2003 Service Pack 3; Microsoft Word 2007; Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats; and Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac and Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac. 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 Word handles specially crafted Word files. For more information about the vulnerabilities, see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) subsection for the specific vulnerability entry under the next section, Vulnerability Information.

Note This update includes additional security mitigations against public attacks using Microsoft Word to exploit vulnerabilities in Microsoft Jet Database Engine first described in Microsoft Security Advisory 950627. In addition to installing this update, we recommend that customers install the update provided in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-028: Vulnerability in Microsoft Jet Database Engine Could Allow Remote Code Execution (950749) for the most up to date protection against these types of attacks.

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 SoftwareComponentMaximum Security ImpactAggregate Severity RatingBulletins Replaced by this Update
Microsoft Office Suites and Components
Microsoft Office 2000 Service Pack 3Microsoft Word 2000 Service Pack 3
(KB950250)
Remote Code ExecutionCriticalMS08-009
Microsoft Office XP Service Pack 3Microsoft Word 2002 Service Pack 3
(KB950243)
Remote Code ExecutionImportantMS08-009
Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 2Microsoft Word 2003 Service Pack 2
(KB950241)
Remote Code ExecutionImportantMS08-009
Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 3Microsoft Word 2003 Service Pack 3
(KB950241)
Remote Code ExecutionImportantMS08-009
2007 Microsoft Office SystemMicrosoft Word 2007
(KB950113)
Remote Code ExecutionImportantNone
Microsoft Outlook 2007
(KB950113)
Remote Code ExecutionCriticalNone
2007 Microsoft Office System Service Pack 1Microsoft Word 2007 Service Pack 1
(KB950113)
Remote Code ExecutionImportantNone
Microsoft Outlook 2007 Service Pack 1
(KB950113)
Remote Code ExecutionCriticalNone
Other Office Software
Microsoft Word Viewer 2003
(KB950625)
Not applicableRemote Code ExecutionImportantMS08-009
Microsoft Word Viewer 2003 Service Pack 3
(KB950625)
Not applicableRemote Code ExecutionImportantMS07-024
Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats
(KB951808)
Not applicableRemote Code ExecutionImportantNone
Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats Service Pack 1
(KB951808)
Not applicableRemote Code ExecutionImportantNone
Microsoft Office for Mac
Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac
(KB952332)
Not applicableRemote Code ExecutionImportantMS08-014
Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac
(KB952331)
Not applicableRemote Code ExecutionImportantMS08-014

Non-Affected Software

Office and Other Software
Microsoft Works 8.0
Microsoft Works 8.5
Microsoft Works 9.0
Microsoft Works Suite 2005
Microsoft Works Suite 2006

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Related to This Security Update

Vulnerability Information

Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers

Object Parsing Vulnerability - CVE-2008-1091

Word Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) Vulnerability - CVE-2008-1434

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:

  • Jun Mao, working with iDefense Labs, for reporting the Word Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) Vulnerability - CVE-2008-1434.
  • wushi of team509, working with Zero Day Initiative, for reporting the Object Parsing Vulnerability - CVE-2008-1091.

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 (May 13, 2008): Bulletin published.
  • V1.1 (May 14, 2008): Updated the Deployment Information sections for Office 2004 for Mac and Office 2008 for Mac to link to the Microsoft Download Center. Also added entry to Update FAQ to clarify why the update for Outlook 2007 is rated Critical.