Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-057 - Critical
Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Excel Could Allow Remote Code Execution (956416)
Published: | Updated:
Version: 1.2
General Information
Executive Summary
This security update resolves three privately reported vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office Excel that could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted Excel 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 all supported editions of Microsoft Office Excel 2000 and rated Important for all supported editions of Microsoft Office Excel 2002, Microsoft Office Excel 2003, Microsoft Office Excel Viewer 2003, Microsoft Office Excel 2007, Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack , Microsoft Office Excel Viewer, and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007. For more information, see the subsection, Affected and Non-Affected Software, in this section.
This security update addresses these vulnerabilities by modifying the way that Microsoft Excel performs validations when opening Excel files. 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 Software | Component | Maximum Security Impact | Aggregate Severity Rating | Bulletins Replaced by this Update |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Office 2000 Service Pack 3 | Excel 2000 Service Pack 3 (KB955461) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | MS08-043 |
| Microsoft Office XP Service Pack 3 | Excel 2002 Service Pack 3 (KB955464) | Remote Code Execution | Important | MS08-043 |
| Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 2 | Excel 2003 Service Pack 2 (KB955466) | Remote Code Execution | Important | MS08-043 |
| Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 3 | Excel 2003 Service Pack 3 (KB955466) | Remote Code Execution | Important | MS08-043 |
| 2007 Microsoft Office System | Excel 2007 (KB955470) | Remote Code Execution | Important | MS08-043 |
| 2007 Microsoft Office System Service Pack 1 | Excel 2007 Service Pack 1 (KB955470) | Remote Code Execution | Important | MS08-043 |
| Microsoft Office Excel Viewer 2003 (KB955468) | Remote Code Execution | Important | MS08-043 | |
| Microsoft Office Excel Viewer 2003 Service Pack 3 (KB955468) | Remote Code Execution | Important | MS08-043 | |
| Microsoft Office Excel Viewer (KB955935) | Remote Code Execution | Important | MS08-043 | |
| Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats (KB955936) | Remote Code Execution | Important | MS08-043 | |
| Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats Service Pack 1 (KB955936) | Remote Code Execution | Important | MS08-043 | |
| Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007* (KB955937) | Remote Code Execution | Important | MS08-043 | |
| Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Service Pack 1* (KB955937) | Remote Code Execution | Important | MS08-043 | |
| Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 x64 Edition* (KB955937) | Remote Code Execution | Important | MS08-043 | |
| Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 x64 Edition Service Pack 1* (KB955937) | Remote Code Execution | Important | MS08-043 | |
| Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac (KB958312) | Remote Code Execution | Important | MS08-043 | |
| Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac (KB958267) | Remote Code Execution | Important | MS08-043 | |
| Open XML File Format Converter for Mac (KB958304) | Remote Code Execution | Important | None |
*This update applies to servers that have Excel Services installed, such as the default configuration of Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Enterprise and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 For Internet Sites. Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Standard does not include Excel Services.
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 |
| Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2003 Service Pack 3 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Related to This Security Update
I use Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 2. Are any additional security features included in this update?
Yes, as part of the servicing model for Microsoft Office 2003, when users of Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 2 install this update, their systems will be upgraded to security functionality that was initially released with Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 3. All updates released after January 1, 2008 for Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 2 will include these security features, which were introduced in Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 3. We have thoroughly tested this update, but as with all updates, we recommend that users perform testing appropriate to the environment and configuration of their systems. For more information on this issue, please see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 951646.
Where are the file information details?
The file information details can be found in Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 956416.
Why does this update address several reported security vulnerabilities?
This update contains support for several vulnerabilities because the modifications that are required to address these issues are located in related files. Instead of having to install several updates that are almost the same, customers need to install this update only.
What is the Microsoft Office Excel Viewer?
The Microsoft Office Excel Viewer is a replacement for all previous Excel Viewer versions, including Excel Viewer 97 and Excel Viewer 2003. With Excel Viewer, you can open, view, and print Excel workbooks, even if you don't have Excel installed. You can also copy data from Excel Viewer to another program. However, you cannot edit data, save a workbook, or create a new workbook.
Why is Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 affected?
Excel Services in Microsoft Office SharePoint Server uses code that is based on the Excel client which is affected by vulnerabilities as detailed in the Vulnerability Information section of this bulletin.
Note There are three components to Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server core components, Excel Services, and InfoPath Forms Services. This update impacts the Excel Services component of Microsoft Office SharePoint Sever 2007
What components of the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats are updated by this bulletin?
The update included with this security bulletin applies only to the specific component within the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats that is affected. For example, in an Excel bulletin, only the Excel compatibility pack component files are included in the update packages and not Word or PowerPoint compatibility pack component files. Word compatibility pack component files are updated in a Word bulletin and PowerPoint compatibility pack component files are updated in a PowerPoint bulletin.
I am using an older release of the software discussed in this security bulletin. What should I do?
The affected software listed in this bulletin have been tested to determine which releases are affected. Other releases are past their support life cycle. To determine the support life cycle for your software release, visit Microsoft Support Lifecycle.
It should be a priority for customers who have older releases of the software to migrate to supported releases to prevent potential exposure to vulnerabilities. For more information about the Windows Product Lifecycle, visit Microsoft Support Lifecycle. For more information about the extended security update support period for these software versions or editions, visit Microsoft Product Support Services.
Customers who require custom support for older releases must contact their Microsoft account team representative, their Technical Account Manager, or the appropriate Microsoft partner representative for custom support options. Customers without an Alliance, Premier, or Authorized Contract can contact their local Microsoft sales office. For contact information, visit Microsoft Worldwide Information, select the country, and then click Go to see a list of telephone numbers. When you call, ask to speak with the local Premier Support sales manager. For more information, see the Windows Operating System Product Support Lifecycle FAQ.
Vulnerability Information
Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers
| Affected Software | Calendar Object Validation Vulnerability - CVE-2008-3477 | File Format Parsing Vulnerability - CVE-2008-3471 | Formula Parsing Vulnerability - CVE-2008-4019 | Aggregate Severity Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excel 2000 Service Pack 3 | Critical Remote Code Execution | Critical Remote Code Execution | Critical Remote Code Execution | Critical |
| Excel 2002 Service Pack 3 | Important Remote Code Execution | Important Remote Code Execution | Important Remote Code Execution | Important |
| Excel 2003 Service Pack 2 | Important Remote Code Execution | Important Remote Code Execution | Important Remote Code Execution | Important |
| Excel 2003 Service Pack 3 | Important Remote Code Execution | Important Remote Code Execution | Important Remote Code Execution | Important |
| Excel 2007 | None | Important Remote Code Execution | Important Remote Code Execution | Important |
| Excel 2007 Service Pack 1 | None | Important Remote Code Execution | Important Remote Code Execution | Important |
| Microsoft Office Excel Viewer 2003 | None | Important Remote Code Execution | Important Remote Code Execution | Important |
| Microsoft Office Excel Viewer 2003 Service Pack 3 | None | Important Remote Code Execution | Important Remote Code Execution | Important |
| Microsoft Office Excel Viewer | None | Important Remote Code Execution | Important Remote Code Execution | Important |
| Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats | None | Important Remote Code Execution | Important Remote Code Execution | Important |
| Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats Service Pack 1 | None | Important Remote Code Execution | Important Remote Code Execution | Important |
| Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 | None | None | Important Remote Code Execution | Important |
| Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Service Pack 1 | None | None | Important Remote Code Execution | Important |
| Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 x64 Edition | None | None | Important Remote Code Execution | Important |
| Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 x64 Edition Service Pack 1 | None | None | Important Remote Code Execution | Important |
| Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac | None | Important Remote Code Execution | Important Remote Code Execution | Important |
| Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac | None | Important Remote Code Execution | Important Remote Code Execution | Important |
| Open XML File Format Converter for Mac | None | Important Remote Code Execution | Important Remote Code Execution | Important |
Calendar Object Validation Vulnerability - CVE-2008-3477
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way Excel processes a VBA Performance Cache. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted Excel file in a VBA Performance Cache. 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.
To view this vulnerability as a standard entry in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures list, see CVE-2008-3477.
Mitigating Factors for Calendar Object Validation Vulnerability - CVE-2008-3477
Mitigation refers to a setting, common configuration, or general best-practice, existing in a default state, that could reduce the severity of exploitation of a vulnerability. The following mitigating factors may be helpful in your situation:
- An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the local user. 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.
- The vulnerability cannot be exploited automatically through e-mail. For an attack to be successful, a user must open an attachment that is sent in an e-mail message.
- Users who have installed and are using the Office Document Open Confirmation Tool for Office 2000 will be prompted with Open, Save, or Cancel before opening a document. The features of the Office Document Open Confirmation Tool are incorporated in Office XP and later editions of Office.
Workarounds for Calendar Object Validation Vulnerability - CVE-2008-3477
Workaround refers to a setting or configuration change that does not correct the underlying vulnerability but would help block known attack vectors before you apply the update. Microsoft has tested the following workarounds and states in the discussion whether a workaround reduces functionality:
- Use the Microsoft Office Isolated Conversion Environment (MOICE) when opening files from unknown or un-trusted sources
The Microsoft Office Isolated Conversion Environment (MOICE) will protect Office 2003 installations by more securely opening Word, Excel, and PowerPoint binary format files.
To install MOICE, you must have Office 2003 or 2007 Office system installed.
To install MOICE, you must have the Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats. The compatibility pack is available as a free download from the Microsoft Download Center:
Download the FileFormatConverters.exe package nowMOICE requires all updates that are recommended for all Office programs. Visit Microsoft Update to install all recommended updates:
http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-usTo enable MOICE, change the registered handler for the .xls, .xlt, and .xla file formats. The following table describes the command to enable or to disable MOICE for the .xls, .xlt, and .xla file formats:
| Command to use to enable MOICE to be the registered handler | Command to use to disable MOICE as the registered handler |
|---|---|
| ASSOC .XLS=oice.excel.sheet | ASSOC .xls=Excel.Sheet.8 |
| ASSOC .XLT=oice.excel.template | ASSOC .xlt=Excel.Template |
| ASSOC .XLA=oice.excel.addin | ASSOC .xla=Excel.Addin |
Note On Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 the commands above will need to be run from an elevated command prompt.
For more information on MOICE, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 935865.
Impact of Workaround: Office 2003 and earlier formatted documents that are converted to the 2007 Microsoft Office System Open XML format by MOICE will not retain macro functionality. Additionally, documents with passwords or that are protected with Digital Rights Management cannot be converted.
- Use Microsoft Office File Block policy to block the opening of Office 2003 and earlier documents from unknown or untrusted sources and locations
The following registry scripts can be used to set the File Block policy.
Note Modifying the Registry incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from incorrect modification of the Registry can be solved. Modify the Registry at your own risk.
For Office 2003
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Excel\Security\FileOpenBlock]
"BinaryFiles"=dword:00000001
Note In order to use 'FileOpenBlock' with Office 2003, all of the latest Office 2003 security updates must be applied.
Impact of Workaround: Users who have configured the File Block policy and have not configured a special “exempt directory” as discussed in Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 922848 will be unable to open Office 2003 files or earlier versions in Office 2003 or 2007 Microsoft Office System.
For 2007 Office system
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\Security\FileOpenBlock]
"BinaryFiles"=dword:00000001
Note In order to use 'FileOpenBlock' with the 2007 Microsoft Office system, all of the latest security updates for the 2007 Microsoft Office system must be applied.
Impact of Workaround: Users who have configured the File Block policy and have not configured a special “exempt directory” as discussed in Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 922848 will be unable to open Office 2003 files or earlier versions in Office 2003 or 2007 Microsoft Office System.
How to Undo the Workaround:
For Office 2003
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Excel\Security\FileOpenBlock]
"BinaryFiles"=dword:00000000
For 2007 Office system
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\Security\FileOpenBlock]
"BinaryFiles"=dword:00000000
- Modify Access Control List (ACL) on VBE6.DLL to deny access to the Everyone group
For Windows 2000 and Windows XP
To modify the Access Control List (ACL) on VBE6.DLL to be more restrictive, follow these steps:
- Log on as a user with administrator privileges.
- Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
- Document the current ACLs that are on the file (including inheritance settings) for future reference in case you have to undo this modification. To view the ACLs, type the following:
cacls "%ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VBA\VBA6\vbe6.dll" - To deny the "everyone" group access to the file, type the following command at the command prompt:
echo y| cacls "%ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VBA\VBA6\vbe6.dll" /E /P everyone:N
For Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
To modify the Access Control List (ACL) on VBE6.DLL to be more restrictive, follow these steps:
- Log on as a user with administrator privileges.
- Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
- Document the current ACLs that are on the file (including inheritance settings) for future reference in case you have to undo this modification. To view the ACLs, type the following:
cacls "%ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VBA\VBA6\vbe6.dll" - To deny the "everyone" group access to the file, type the following command at the command prompt:
takeown /f "%ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VBA\VBA6\vbe6.dll"
icacls "%ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VBA\VBA6\vbe6.dll" /save %TEMP%\VBE6_ACL.TXT
icacls "%ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VBA\VBA6\vbe6.dll" /deny everyone:(F)
Impact of Workaround: Embedded ActiveX controls will not run in Office documents. Users will be unable to insert Objects into documents.
How to Undo the Workaround:
For Windows 2000 and Windows XP
Type the following command at the command prompt:
echo y| cacls "%ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VBA\VBA6\vbe6.dll" /E /R everyoneFor Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
Type the following command at the command prompt as an administrator:
icacls "%ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VBA\VBA6\vbe6.dll" /restore %TEMP%\VBE6_ACL.TXT
FAQ for Calendar Object Validation Vulnerability - CVE-2008-3477
What is the scope of the vulnerability?
This is a remote code execution vulnerability. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs or view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.
What causes the vulnerability?
Excel does not perform sufficient validation of data in the VBA Performance Cache.
What might an attacker use the vulnerability to do?
An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code as the logged-on user. If a user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take complete control of the 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.
How could an attacker exploit the vulnerability?
This vulnerability requires that a user open a specially crafted Excel file with an affected version of Microsoft Excel.
In an e-mail attack scenario, an attacker could exploit the vulnerability by sending a malformed Excel file to the user and by convincing the user to open the file.
In a Web-based attack scenario, an attacker would have to host a Web site that contains an Office file that is used to attempt to exploit this vulnerability. In addition, compromised Web sites and Web sites that accept or host user-provided content could contain specially crafted content that could exploit this vulnerability. An attacker would have no way to force users to visit a specially crafted Web site. Instead, an attacker would have to convince users to visit the Web site, typically by getting them to click a link that takes them to the attacker's site.
What systems are primarily at risk from the vulnerability?
Systems where the affect software is used, including workstations and terminal servers, are primarily at risk. Servers could be at more risk if administrators allow users to log on to servers and to run programs. However, best practices strongly discourage allowing this.
What does the update do?
This update modifies the way Excel handles loading of the VBA Performance Cache with ActiveX controls.
When this security bulletin was issued, had this vulnerability been publicly disclosed?
No. Microsoft received information about this vulnerability through responsible disclosure. Microsoft had not received any information to indicate that this vulnerability had been publicly disclosed when this security bulletin was originally issued. This security bulletin addresses the privately disclosed vulnerability as well as additional issues discovered through internal investigations.
When this security bulletin was issued, had Microsoft received any reports that this vulnerability was being exploited?
No. Microsoft had not received information to indicate that this vulnerability had been publicly used to attack customers and had not seen any examples of proof of concept code published when this security bulletin was originally issued.
File Format Parsing Vulnerability - CVE-2008-3471
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel as a result of improper memory allocation when loading Excel objects. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted Excel file that includes a malformed object. 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.
To view this vulnerability as a standard entry in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures list, see CVE-2008-3471.
Mitigating Factors for File Format Parsing Vulnerability - CVE-2008-3471
Mitigation refers to a setting, common configuration, or general best-practice, existing in a default state, that could reduce the severity of exploitation of a vulnerability. The following mitigating factors may be helpful in your situation:
- An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the local user. 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.
- The vulnerability cannot be exploited automatically through e-mail. For an attack to be successful, a user must open an attachment that is sent in an e-mail message.
- Users who have installed and are using the Office Document Open Confirmation Tool for Office 2000 will be prompted with Open, Save, or Cancel before opening a document. The features of the Office Document Open Confirmation Tool are incorporated in Office XP and later editions of Office.
Workarounds for File Format Parsing Vulnerability - CVE-2008-3471
Workaround refers to a setting or configuration change that does not correct the underlying vulnerability but would help block known attack vectors before you apply the update. Microsoft has tested the following workarounds and states in the discussion whether a workaround reduces functionality:
- Use the Microsoft Office Isolated Conversion Environment (MOICE) when opening files from unknown or un-trusted sources
The Microsoft Office Isolated Conversion Environment (MOICE) will protect Office 2003 installations by more securely opening Word, Excel, and PowerPoint binary format files.
To install MOICE, you must have Office 2003 or 2007 Office system installed.
To install MOICE, you must have the Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats. The compatibility pack is available as a free download from the Microsoft Download Center:
Download the FileFormatConverters.exe package nowMOICE requires all updates that are recommended for all Office programs. Visit Microsoft Update to install all recommended updates:
http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-usTo enable MOICE, change the registered handler for the .xls, .xlt, and .xla file formats. The following table describes the command to enable or to disable MOICE for the .xls, .xlt, and .xla file formats:
| Command to use to enable MOICE to be the registered handler | Command to use to disable MOICE as the registered handler |
|---|---|
| ASSOC .XLS=oice.excel.sheet | ASSOC .xls=Excel.Sheet.8 |
| ASSOC .XLT=oice.excel.template | ASSOC .xlt=Excel.Template |
| ASSOC .XLA=oice.excel.addin | ASSOC .xla=Excel.Addin |
Note On Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 the commands above will need to be run from an elevated command prompt.
For more information on MOICE, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 935865.
Impact of Workaround: Office 2003 and earlier formatted documents that are converted to the 2007 Microsoft Office System Open XML format by MOICE will not retain macro functionality. Additionally, documents with passwords or that are protected with Digital Rights Management cannot be converted.
- Use Microsoft Office File Block policy to block the opening of Office 2003 and earlier documents from unknown or untrusted sources and locations
The following registry scripts can be used to set the File Block policy.
Note Modifying the Registry incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from incorrect modification of the Registry can be solved. Modify the Registry at your own risk.
For Office 2003
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Excel\Security\FileOpenBlock]
"BinaryFiles"=dword:00000001
Note In order to use 'FileOpenBlock' with Office 2003, all of the latest Office 2003 security updates must be applied.
Impact of Workaround: Users who have configured the File Block policy and have not configured a special “exempt directory” as discussed in Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 922848 will be unable to open Office 2003 files or earlier versions in Office 2003 or 2007 Microsoft Office System.
For 2007 Office system
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\Security\FileOpenBlock]
"BinaryFiles"=dword:00000001
Note In order to use 'FileOpenBlock' with the 2007 Microsoft Office system, all of the latest security updates for the 2007 Microsoft Office system must be applied.
Impact of Workaround: Users who have configured the File Block policy and have not configured a special “exempt directory” as discussed in Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 922848 will be unable to open Office 2003 files or earlier versions in Office 2003 or 2007 Microsoft Office System.
How to Undo the Workaround:
For Office 2003
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Excel\Security\FileOpenBlock]
"BinaryFiles"=dword:00000000
For 2007 Office system
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\Security\FileOpenBlock]
"BinaryFiles"=dword:00000000
FAQ for File Format Parsing Vulnerability - CVE-2008-3471
What is the scope of the vulnerability?
This is a remote code execution vulnerability. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system remotely. An attacker could then install programs or view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.
What causes the vulnerability?
A vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel that allows an attacker to execute remote code when opening a specially crafted attacker-supplied Excel spreadsheet. The specific flaw exists in the way Microsoft Excel parses the Excel spreadsheet file format.
What might an attacker use the vulnerability to do?
An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code as the logged-on user. If a user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take complete control of the 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.
How could an attacker exploit the vulnerability?
This vulnerability requires that a user open a specially crafted Excel spreadsheet with an affected version of Microsoft Excel.
In an e-mail attack scenario, an attacker could exploit the vulnerability by sending a malformed Excel file to the user and by convincing the user to open the file.
In a Web-based attack scenario, an attacker would have to host a Web site that contains an Office file that is used to attempt to exploit this vulnerability. In addition, compromised Web sites and Web sites that accept or host user-provided content could contain specially crafted content that could exploit this vulnerability. An attacker would have no way to force users to visit a specially crafted Web site. Instead, an attacker would have to convince them to visit the Web site, typically by getting them to click a link that takes them to the attacker's site.
What systems are primarily at risk from the vulnerability?
Systems where the affect software is used, including workstations and terminal servers, are primarily at risk. Servers could be at more risk if administrators allow users to log on to servers and to run programs. However, best practices strongly discourage allowing this.
What does the update do?
The update removes the vulnerability by modifying the way that Microsoft Excel handles BIFF files.
When this security bulletin was issued, had this vulnerability been publicly disclosed?
No. Microsoft received information about this vulnerability through responsible disclosure. Microsoft had not received any information to indicate that this vulnerability had been publicly disclosed when this security bulletin was originally issued. This security bulletin addresses the privately disclosed vulnerability as well as additional issues discovered through internal investigations.
When this security bulletin was issued, had Microsoft received any reports that this vulnerability was being exploited?
No. Microsoft had not received information to indicate that this vulnerability had been publicly used to attack customers and had not seen any examples of proof of concept code published when this security bulletin was originally issued.
Formula Parsing Vulnerability - CVE-2008-4019
The specific flaw exists when parsing Microsoft Excel documents containing a specially crafted formula embedded inside a cell. This can result in a remote compromise of the system under the context of the currently logged in user.
To view this vulnerability as a standard entry in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures list, see CVE-2008-4019.
Mitigating Factors for Formula Parsing Vulnerability - CVE-2008-4019
Mitigation refers to a setting, common configuration, or general best-practice, existing in a default state, that could reduce the severity of exploitation of a vulnerability. The following mitigating factors may be helpful in your situation:
- An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the local user. 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.
- The vulnerability cannot be exploited automatically through e-mail. For an attack to be successful, a user must open an attachment that is sent in an e-mail message.
- Users who have installed and are using the Office Document Open Confirmation Tool for Office 2000 will be prompted with Open, Save, or Cancel before opening a document. The features of the Office Document Open Confirmation Tool are incorporated in Office XP and later editions of Office.
Workarounds for Formula Parsing Vulnerability - CVE-2008-4019
Microsoft has not identified any workarounds for this vulnerability.
FAQ for Formula Parsing Vulnerability - CVE-2008-4019
What is the scope of the vulnerability?
This is a remote code execution vulnerability. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system remotely. An attacker could then install programs or view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.
What causes the vulnerability?
Excel REPT function allows for an integer overflow of the maximum cell length causing an exploitable condition.
What might an attacker use the vulnerability to do?
An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code as the logged-on user. If a user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take complete control of the 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.
How could an attacker exploit the vulnerability?
This vulnerability requires that a user open a specially-crafted Excel file with an affected version of Microsoft Excel.
In an e-mail attack scenario, an attacker could exploit the vulnerability by sending a malformed Excel file to the user and by convincing the user to open the file.
In a Web-based attack scenario, an attacker would have to host a Web site that contains an Office file that is used to attempt to exploit this vulnerability. In addition, compromised Web sites and Web sites that accept or host user-provided content could contain specially crafted content that could exploit this vulnerability. An attacker would have no way to force users to visit a specially crafted Web site. Instead, an attacker would have to convince users to visit the Web site, typically by getting them to click a link that takes them to the attacker's site.
What systems are primarily at risk from the vulnerability?
Systems where Microsoft Excel used, including workstations and terminal servers, are primarily at risk. Servers could be at more risk if administrators allow users to log on to servers and to run programs. However, best practices strongly discourage allowing this.
What does the update do?
This update removes the integer overflow when loading Excel files into memory.
When this security bulletin was issued, had this vulnerability been publicly disclosed?
No. Microsoft received information about this vulnerability through responsible disclosure. Microsoft had not received any information to indicate that this vulnerability had been publicly disclosed when this security bulletin was originally issued. This security bulletin addresses the privately disclosed vulnerability as well as additional issues discovered through internal investigations.
When this security bulletin was issued, had Microsoft received any reports that this vulnerability was being exploited?
No. Microsoft had not received information to indicate that this vulnerability had been publicly used to attack customers and had not seen any examples of proof of concept code published when this security bulletin was originally issued.
Update Information
Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance
Manage the software and security updates you need to deploy to the servers, desktop, and mobile systems in your organization. For more information see the TechNet Update Management Center. The Microsoft TechNet Security Web site provides additional information about security in Microsoft products.
Security updates are available from Microsoft Update, Windows Update, and Office Update. Security updates are also available from the Microsoft Download Center. You can find them most easily by doing a keyword search for "security update."
Finally, security updates can be downloaded from the Microsoft Update Catalog. The Microsoft Update Catalog provides a searchable catalog of content made available through Windows Update and Microsoft Update, including security updates, drivers and service packs. By searching using the security bulletin number (such as, “MS07-036”), you can add all of the applicable updates to your basket (including different languages for an update), and download to the folder of your choosing. For more information about the Microsoft Update Catalog, see the Microsoft Update Catalog FAQ.
Detection and Deployment Guidance
Microsoft has provided detection and deployment guidance for this month’s security updates. This guidance will also help IT professionals understand how they can use various tools to help deploy the security update, such as Windows Update, Microsoft Update, Office Update, the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA), the Office Detection Tool, Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS), and the Extended Security Update Inventory Tool. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 910723.
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) allows administrators to scan local and remote systems for missing security updates as well as common security misconfigurations. For more information about MBSA, visit Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer.
The following table provides the MBSA detection summary for this security update.
| Software | MBSA 2.1 |
|---|---|
| Excel 2000 Service Pack 3 | No |
| Excel 2002 Service Pack 3 | Yes |
| Excel 2003 Service Pack 2 | Yes |
| Excel 2003 Service Pack 3 | Yes |
| Excel 2007 | Yes |
| Excel 2007 Service Pack 1 | Yes |
| Microsoft Office Excel Viewer 2003 | Yes |
| Microsoft Office Excel Viewer 2003 Service Pack 3 | Yes |
| Microsoft Office Excel Viewer | Yes |
| Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats | Yes |
| Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats Service Pack 1 | Yes |
| Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 | Yes |
| Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Service Pack 1 | Yes |
| Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 x64 Edition | Yes |
| Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 x64 Edition Service Pack 1 | Yes |
For more information about MBSA 2.1, see MBSA 2.1 Frequently Asked Questions.
Note For customers using legacy software not supported by MBSA 2.0.1, Microsoft Update, and Windows Server Update Services: please visit Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer and reference the Legacy Product Support section on how to create comprehensive security update detection with legacy tools.
Windows Server Update Services
By using Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), administrators can deploy the latest critical updates and security updates for Windows 2000 operating systems and later, Office XP and later, Exchange Server 2003, and SQL Server 2000. For more information about how to deploy this security update using Windows Server Update Services, visit the Windows Server Update Services Web site.
Systems Management Server
The following table provides the SMS detection and deployment summary for this security update.
| Software | SMS 2.0 | SMS 2003 with SUSFP | SMS 2003 with ITMU | Configuration Manager 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excel 2000 Service Pack 3 | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Excel 2002 Service Pack 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Excel 2003 Service Pack 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Excel 2003 Service Pack 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Excel 2007 | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Excel 2007 Service Pack 1 | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Office Excel Viewer 2003 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Office Excel Viewer 2003 Service Pack 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Office Excel Viewer | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats Service Pack 1 | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 | No | No | Yes. See Note for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 below | Yes. See Note for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 below |
| Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Service Pack 1 | No | No | Yes. See Note for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 below | Yes. See Note for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 below |
| Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 x64 Edition | No | No | Yes. See Note for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 below | Yes. See Note for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 below |
| Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 x64 Edition Service Pack 1 | No | No | Yes. See Note for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 below | Yes. See Note for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 below |
For SMS 2.0 and SMS 2003, the SMS SUS Feature Pack (SUSFP), which includes the Security Update Inventory Tool (SUIT), can be used by SMS to detect security updates. See also Downloads for Systems Management Server 2.0.
For SMS 2003, the SMS 2003 Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates (ITMU) can be used by SMS to detect security updates that are offered by Microsoft Update and that are supported by Windows Server Update Services. For more information about the SMS 2003 ITMU, see SMS 2003 Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates. SMS 2003 can also use the Microsoft Office Inventory Tool to detect required updates for Microsoft Office applications. For more information about the Office Inventory Tool and other scanning tools, see SMS 2003 Software Update Scanning Tools. See also Downloads for Systems Management Server 2003.
System Center Configuration Manager 2007 uses WSUS 3.0 for detection of updates. For more information about Configuration Manager 2007 Software Update Management, visit System Center Configuration Manager 2007.
For more information about SMS, visit the SMS Web site.
For more detailed information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 910723: Summary list of monthly detection and deployment guidance articles.
Note for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 The detection table described above is based on single-server Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 deployments. The detection tools do not detect the applicability of the update on systems configured as part of a multiple-system SharePoint server farms. For more information about deploying updates on both stand-alone and multi server configurations, see Deploy software updates for Office SharePoint Server 2007.
Note If you have used an Administrative Installation Point (AIP) for deploying Office 2000, Office XP or Office 2003, you may not be able to deploy the update using SMS if you have updated the AIP from the original baseline. For more information, see the Office Administrative Installation Point heading in this section.
Office Administrative Installation Point
If you installed your application from a server location, the server administrator must update the server location with the administrative update and deploy that update to your system.
- For supported versions of Microsoft Office 2000, see How to Create an Administrative Installation Point. For more information about how to change the source for a client system from an updated administrative installation point to an Office 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3), see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 932889.
Note If you plan to manage software updates centrally from an updated administrative image, you can find more information in the article Updating Office 2000 Clients from a Patched Administrative Image. - For supported versions of Microsoft Office XP, see Creating an Administrative Installation Point. For more information on how to change the source for a client system from an updated administrative installation point to an Office XP original baseline source, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 922665.
Note If you plan to manage software updates centrally from an updated administrative image, you can find more information in the article Updating Office XP Clients from a Patched Administrative Image. - For supported versions of Microsoft Office 2003, see Creating an Administrative Installation Point. For more information on how to change the source for a client computer from an updated administrative installation point to an Office 2003 original baseline source or Service Pack 3 (SP3), see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 902349.
Note If you plan to manage software updates centrally from an updated administrative image, you can find more information in the article, Distributing Office 2003 Product Upgrades. - For supported versions of the 2007 Microsoft Office system, see Create a network installation point for the 2007 Office system.
Note If you plan to manage security updates centrally, use Windows Server Update Services. For more information about how to deploy security updates for the 2007 Microsoft Office system using Windows Server Update Services, visit the Windows Server Update Services Web site.
Update Compatibility Evaluator and Application Compatibility Toolkit
Updates often write to the same files and registry settings required for your applications to run. This can trigger incompatibilities and increase the time it takes to deploy security updates. You can streamline testing and validating Windows updates against installed applications with the Update Compatibility Evaluator components included with Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.0.
The Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) contains the necessary tools and documentation to evaluate and mitigate application compatibility issues before deploying Microsoft Windows Vista, a Windows Update, a Microsoft Security Update, or a new version of Windows Internet Explorer in your environment.
Security Update Deployment
Affected Software
For information about the specific security update for your affected software, click the appropriate link:
Excel 2000 (all editions)
Reference Table
The following table contains the security update information for this software. You can find additional information in the subsection, Deployment Information, in this section.
| Inclusion in Future Service Packs | There are no more service packs planned for this software. The update for this issue may be included in a future update rollup. |
| Deployment | |
| Installing without user intervention | excel2000-kb955461-fullfile-enu /q:a |
| Installing without restarting | excel2000-kb955461-fullfile-enu /r:n |
| Update log file | Not applicable |
| Further information | For detection and deployment, see the earlier section, Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance. For features you can selectively install, see the Office Features for Administrative Installations subsection in this section. |
| Restart Requirement | |
| Restart required? | This update does not require a restart. |
| Hotpatching | Not applicable |
| Removal Information | After you install the update, you cannot remove it. To revert to an installation before the update was installed; you must remove the application, and then install it again from the original media. |
| File Information | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 956416 |
| Registry Key Verification | Not applicable |
Office Features for Administrative Installations
Server administrators who use a Windows Installer Administrative Installation must update the server location. For more information about Administrative Installation Points, refer to the Office Administrative Installation Point information in the Detection and deployment Tools and Guidance subsection.
The following table contains the list of feature names (case sensitive) that must be reinstalled for the update.
To install all features, you can use REINSTALL=ALL or you can install the following features:
| Product | Feature |
|---|---|
| O9EXL, O9PRM, O9PRO, O9SBE, O9PIPC1, O9PIPC2, O9STD | ExcelFiles |
Note Administrators working in managed environments can find resources for deploying Office updates in an organization at the Office Admin Update Center. At that site, scroll down and look under the Update Resources section for the software version you are updating. The Windows Installer Documentation also provides more information about the setup switches supported by Windows Installer.
Deployment Information
Installing the Update
You can install the update from the appropriate download link in the Affected and Non-Affected Software section. If you installed your application from a server location, the server administrator must instead update the server location with the administrative update and deploy that update to your system. For more information about Administrative Installation Points, refer to the Office Administrative Installation Point information in the Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance subsection.
This security update requires that Windows Installer 2.0 or later be installed on the system. All supported versions of Windows include Windows Installer 2.0 or a later version.
To install the latest version of Windows Installer, visit one of the following Microsoft Web sites:
- Windows Installer 3.1 Redistributable
- Windows Installer 2.0 Redistributable for Windows 2000 and Windows NT 4.0
For more information about the terminology that appears in this bulletin, such as hotfix, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 824684.
This security update supports the following setup switches.
| Switch | Description |
|---|---|
| /q | Specifies quiet mode, or suppresses prompts, when files are being extracted. |
| /q:u | Specifies user-quiet mode, which presents some dialog boxes to the user. |
| /q:a | Specifies administrator-quiet mode, which does not present any dialog boxes to the user. |
| /t:path | Specifies the target folder for extracting files. |
| /c | Extracts the files without installing them. If /t:path is not specified, you are prompted for a target folder. |
| /c:path | Overrides the install command that is defined by author. Specifies the path and name of the Setup.inf or .exe file. |
| /r:n | Never restarts the system after installation. |
| /r:I | Prompts the user to restart the system if a restart is required, except when used with /q:a. |
| /r:a | Always restarts the system after installation. |
| /r:s | Restarts the system after installation without prompting the user. |
| /n:v | No version checking - Install the program over any earlier version. |
Note You can combine these switches into one command. For backward compatibility, the security update also supports the setup switches that the earlier version of the Setup program uses. For more information about the supported installation switches, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 262841.
Removing the Update
After you install the update, you cannot remove it. To revert to an installation before the update was installed; you must remove the application, and then install it again from the original media.
Verifying That the Update Has Been Applied
- Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
To verify that a security update has been applied to an affected system, you may be able to use the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) tool. See the section, Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance, earlier in this bulletin for more information.
- File Version Verification
Because there are several versions and editions of Microsoft Office, the following steps may be different on your system. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.
- Click Start, and then click Search.
- In the Search Results pane, click All files and folders under Search Companion.
- In the All or part of the file name box, type a file name from the appropriate file information table, and then click Search.
- In the list of files, right-click a file name from the appropriate file information table, and then click Properties.
Note Depending on the version of the operating system or programs installed, some of the files that are listed in the file information table may not be installed. - On the Version tab, determine the version of the file that is installed on your system by comparing it to the version that is documented in the appropriate file information table.
Note Attributes other than the file version may change during installation. Comparing other file attributes to the information in the file information table is not a supported method of verifying that the update has been applied. Also, in certain cases, files may be renamed during installation. If the file or version information is not present, use one of the other available methods to verify update installation.
Excel 2002 (all editions)
Reference Table
The following table contains the security update information for this software. You can find additional information in the subsection, Deployment Information, in this section.
| Inclusion in Future Service Packs | There are no more service packs planned for this software. The update for this issue may be included in a future update rollup. |
| Deployment | |
| Installing without user intervention | officexp-KB955464-FullFile-ENU /q:a |
| Installing without restarting | officexp-KB955464-FullFile-ENU /r:n |
| Update log file | Not applicable |
| Further information | For detection and deployment, see the earlier section, Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance. For features you can selectively install, see the Office Features for Administrative Installations subsection in this section. |
| Restart Requirement | |
| Restart required? | This update does not require a restart. |
| Hotpatching | Not applicable |
| Removal Information | Use Add or Remove Programs tool in Control Panel. Note When you remove this update, you may be prompted to insert the Microsoft Office XP CD in the CD drive. Additionally, you may not have the option to uninstall the update from the Add or Remove Programs tool in Control Panel. There are several possible causes for this issue. For more information about the removal, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 903771. |
| File Information | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 956416 |
| Registry Key Verification | Not applicable |
Office Features
The following table contains the list of feature names (case sensitive) that must be reinstalled for the update. To install all features, you can use REINSTALL=ALL or you can install the following features:
| Product | Feature |
|---|---|
| PIPC1, PROPLUS, PRO, SBE, STD, STDEDU | EXCELFiles, WordNonBootFiles |
| EXCEL | EXCELFiles |
Note Administrators working in managed environments can find complete resources for deploying Office updates in an organization at the Office Admin Update Center. At that site, scroll down and look under the Update Resources section for the software version you are updating. The Windows Installer Documentation also provides more information about the parameters supported by Windows Installer.
Deployment Information
Installing the Update
You can install the update from the appropriate download link in the Affected and Non-Affected Software section. If you installed your application from a server location, the server administrator must instead update the server location with the administrative update and deploy that update to your system. For more information about Administrative Installation Points, refer to the Office Administrative Installation Point information in the Detection and deployment Tools and Guidance subsection.
This security update requires that Windows Installer 2.0 or later be installed on the system. All supported versions of Windows include Windows Installer 2.0 or a later version.
To install the latest version of Windows Installer, visit one of the following Microsoft Web sites:
- Windows Installer 3.1 Redistributable
- Windows Installer 2.0 Redistributable for Windows 2000 and Windows NT 4.0
For more information about the terminology that appears in this bulletin, such as hotfix, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 824684.
This security update supports the following setup switches.
| Switch | Description |
|---|---|
| /q | Specifies quiet mode, or suppresses prompts, when files are being extracted. |
| /q:u | Specifies user-quiet mode, which presents some dialog boxes to the user. |
| /q:a | Specifies administrator-quiet mode, which does not present any dialog boxes to the user. |
| /t:path | Specifies the target folder for extracting files. |
| /c | Extracts the files without installing them. If /t:path is not specified, you are prompted for a target folder. |
| /c:path | Overrides the install command that is defined by author. Specifies the path and name of the Setup.inf or .exe file. |
| /r:n | Never restarts the system after installation. |
| /r:I | Prompts the user to restart the system if a restart is required, except when used with /q:a. |
| /r:a | Always restarts the system after installation. |
| /r:s | Restarts the system after installation without prompting the user. |
| /n:v | No version checking - Install the program over any earlier version. |
Note You can combine these switches into one command. For backward compatibility, the security update also supports the setup switches that the earlier version of the Setup program uses. For more information about the supported installation switches, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 262841.
Removing the Update
To remove this security update, use the Add or Remove Programs tool in Control Panel. Note When you remove this update, you may be prompted to insert the Microsoft Office XP CD in the CD drive. Additionally, you may not have the option to uninstall the update from the Add or Remove Programs tool in Control Panel. There are several possible causes for this issue. For more information about the removal, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 903771.
Verifying That the Update Has Been Applied
- Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
To verify that a security update has been applied to an affected system, you may be able to use the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) tool. See the “Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer” heading under the section, Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance, earlier in this bulletin for more information.
- File Version Verification
Because there are several versions and editions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your system. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.
- Click Start, and then click Search.
- In the Search Results pane, click All files and folders under Search Companion.
- In the All or part of the file name box, type a file name from the appropriate file information table, and then click Search.
- In the list of files, right-click a file name from the appropriate file information table, and then click Properties.
Note Depending on the version of the operating system or programs installed, some of the files that are listed in the file information table may not be installed. - On the Version tab, determine the version of the file that is installed on your system by comparing it to the version that is documented in the appropriate file information table.
Note Attributes other than the file version may change during installation. Comparing other file attributes to the information in the file information table is not a supported method of verifying that the update has been applied. Also, in certain cases, files may be renamed during installation. If the file or version information is not present, use one of the other available methods to verify update installation.
Excel 2003 and Excel Viewer 2003 (all editions)
Reference Table
The following table contains the security update information for this software. You can find additional information in the subsection, Deployment Information, in this section.
| Inclusion in Future Service Packs | There are no more service packs planned for this software. The update for this issue may be included in a future update rollup. |
| Deployment | |
| Installing without user intervention | For Excel 2003: Excel2003-kb955466-fullfile-enu /q:a For Excel Viewer 2003: ExcelViewer2003-kb955468-fullfile-enu /q:a |
| Installing without restarting | For Excel 2003: Excel2003-kb955466-fullfile-enu /r:n For Excel Viewer 2003: ExcelViewer2003-kb955468-fullfile-enu /r:n |
| Update log file | Not applicable |
| Further information | For detection and deployment, see the earlier section, Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance. For features you can selectively install, see the Office Features for Administrative Installations subsection in this section. |
| Restart Requirement | |
| Restart required? | This update does not require a restart. |
| Hotpatching | Not applicable |
| Removal Information | Use Add or Remove Programs tool in Control Panel. Note When you remove this update, you may be prompted to insert the Microsoft Office 2003 CD in the CD drive. Additionally, you may not have the option to uninstall the update from the Add or Remove Programs tool in Control Panel. There are several possible causes for this issue. For more information about the removal, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 903771. |
| File Information | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 956416 |
| Registry Key Verification | Not applicable |
Office Features
The following table contains the list of feature names (case sensitive) that must be reinstalled for the update. To install all features, you can use REINSTALL=ALL or you can install the following features:
| Product | Feature |
|---|---|
| STD11, BASIC11, PERS11, PROI11, PRO11, STDP11, EXCEL11, PRO11SB | All |
| XLVIEW | ExcelViewer |
Note Administrators working in managed environments can find complete resources for deploying Office updates in an organization at the Office Admin Update Center. At that site, scroll down and look under the Update Resources section for the software version you are updating. The Windows Installer Documentation also provides more information about the parameters supported by Windows Installer.
Deployment Information
Installing the Update
You can install the update from the appropriate download link in the Affected and Non-Affected Software section. If you installed your application from a server location, the server administrator must instead update the server location with the administrative update and deploy that update to your system. For more information about Administrative Installation Points, refer to the Office Administrative Installation Point information in the Detection and deployment Tools and Guidance subsection.
This security update requires that Windows Installer 2.0 or later be installed on the system. All supported versions of Windows include Windows Installer 2.0 or a later version.
To install the latest version of Windows Installer, visit one of the following Microsoft Web sites:
- Windows Installer 3.1 Redistributable
- Windows Installer 2.0 Redistributable for Windows 2000 and Windows NT 4.0
For more information about the terminology that appears in this bulletin, such as hotfix, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 824684.
This security update supports the following setup switches.
| Switch | Description |
|---|---|
| /q | Specifies quiet mode, or suppresses prompts, when files are being extracted. |
| /q:u | Specifies user-quiet mode, which presents some dialog boxes to the user. |
| /q:a | Specifies administrator-quiet mode, which does not present any dialog boxes to the user. |
| /t:path | Specifies the target folder for extracting files. |
| /c | Extracts the files without installing them. If /t:path is not specified, you are prompted for a target folder. |
| /c:path | Overrides the install command that is defined by author. Specifies the path and name of the Setup.inf or .exe file. |
| /r:n | Never restarts the system after installation. |
| /r:I | Prompts the user to restart the system if a restart is required, except when used with /q:a. |
| /r:a | Always restarts the system after installation. |
| /r:s | Restarts the system after installation without prompting the user. |
| /n:v | No version checking - Install the program over any earlier version. |
Note You can combine these switches into one command. For backward compatibility, the security update also supports many of the setup switches that the earlier version of the Setup program uses. For more information about the supported installation switches, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 262841.
Removing the Update
To remove this security update, use the Add or Remove Programs tool in Control Panel.
Note When you remove this update, you may be prompted to insert the Microsoft Office 2003 CD in the CD drive. Additionally, you may not have the option to uninstall the update from the Add or Remove Programs tool in Control Panel. There are several possible causes for this issue. For more information about the removal, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 903771.
Verifying that the Update Has Been Applied
- Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
To verify that a security update has been applied to an affected system, you may be able to use the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) tool. See the “Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer” heading under the section, Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance, earlier in this bulletin for more information.
- File Version Verification
Because there are several versions and editions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your system. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.
- Click Start, and then click Search.
- In the Search Results pane, click All files and folders under Search Companion.
- In the All or part of the file name box, type a file name from the appropriate file information table, and then click Search.
- In the list of files, right-click a file name from the appropriate file information table, and then click Properties.
Note Depending on the version of the operating system or programs installed, some of the files that are listed in the file information table may not be installed. - On the Version tab, determine the version of the file that is installed on your system by comparing it to the version that is documented in the appropriate file information table.
Note Attributes other than the file version may change during installation. Comparing other file attributes to the information in the file information table is not a supported method of verifying that the update has been applied. Also, in certain cases, files may be renamed during installation. If the file or version information is not present, use one of the other available methods to verify update installation.
Excel 2007, Excel Viewer, and Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats (all editions)
Reference Table
The following table contains the security update information for this software. You can find additional information in the subsection, Deployment Information, in this section.
| Inclusion in Future Service Packs | There are no more service packs planned for this software. The update for this issue may be included in a future update rollup. |
| Deployment | |
| Installing without user intervention | For Excel 2007: excel2007-kb955470-fullfile-x86-glb /passive For Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats: excel2007-kb955470-fullfile-x86-glb /passive For Excel Viewer: excelviewer2007-kb955935-fullfile-x86-glb /passive |
| Installing without restarting | For Excel 2007: excel2007-kb955470-fullfile-x86-glb /norestart For Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats: excel2007-kb955470-fullfile-x86-glb /norestart For Excel Viewer: excelviewer2007-kb955935-fullfile-x86-glb /norestart |
| Update log file | Not applicable |
| Further information | For detection and deployment, see the earlier section, Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance. For features you can selectively install, see the Office Features for Administrative Installations subsection in this section. |
| Restart Requirement | |
| Restart required? | This update does not require a restart. |
| Hotpatching | Not applicable |
| Removal Information | Use Add or Remove Programs tool in Control Panel. |
| File Information | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 956416 |
| Registry Key Verification | Not applicable |
Office Features
The following table contains the list of feature names (case sensitive) that must be reinstalled for the update.
To install all features, you can use REINSTALL=ALL or you can install the following features:
| Product | Feature |
|---|---|
| Excel 2007 | EXCELFiles |
| Excel Converter | ExcelConverter12Files |
Note Administrators working in managed environments can find complete resources for deploying Office updates in an organization at the Office Admin Update Center. At that site, scroll down and look under the Update Resources section for the software version you are updating. The Windows Installer Documentation also provides more information about the parameters supported by Windows Installer.
Deployment Information
Installing the Update
You can install the update from the appropriate download link in the Affected and Non-Affected Software section. If you installed your application from a server location, the server administrator must instead update the server location with the administrative update and deploy that update to your system. For more information about Administrative Installation Points, refer to the Office Administrative Installation Point information in the Detection and deployment Tools and Guidance subsection.
This security update requires that Windows Installer 3.1 or later be installed on the system. All supported versions of Windows include Windows Installer 3.1 or a later version.
To install the latest version of Windows Installer, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
For more information about the terminology that appears in this bulletin, such as hotfix, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 824684.
This security update supports the following setup switches.
| Switch | Description |
|---|---|
| /? or /help | Displays usage dialog. |
| /passive | Specifies passive mode. Requires no user interaction; users see basic progress dialogs but cannot cancel. |
| /quiet | Specifies quiet mode, or suppresses prompts, when files are being extracted. |
| /norestart | Suppresses restarting the system if the update requires a restart. |
| /forcerestart | Automatically restarts the system after applying the update, regardless of whether the update requires the restart. |
| /extract | Extracts the files without installing them. You are prompted for a target folder. |
| /extract:<path> | Overrides the install command that is defined by author. Specifies the path and name of the Setup.inf or .exe file. |
| /lang:<LCID> | Forces the use of a specific language, when the update package supports that language. |
| /log:<log file> | Enables logging, by both Vnox and Installer, during the update installation. |
Note You can combine these switches into one command. For backward compatibility, the security update also supports many of the setup switches that the earlier version of the Setup program uses. For more information about the supported installation switches, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 262841.
Removing the Update
To remove this security update, use the Add or Remove Programs tool in Control Panel.
Verifying that the Update Has Been Applied
- Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
To verify that a security update has been applied to an affected system, you may be able to use the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) tool. See the “Microsoft baseline Security Analyzer” heading under the section, Microsoft Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance.
- File Version Verification
Note Because there are several versions and editions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your system. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.
- Click Start, and then click Search.
- In the Search Results pane, click All files and folders under Search Companion.
- In the All or part of the file name box, type a file name from the appropriate file information table, and then click Search.
- In the list of files, right-click a file name from the appropriate file information table, and then click Properties.
Note Depending on the version of the operating system or programs installed, some of the files that are listed in the file information table may not be installed. - On the Version tab, determine the version of the file that is installed on your system by comparing it to the version that is documented in the appropriate file information table.
Note Attributes other than the file version may change during installation. Comparing other file attributes to the information in the file information table is not a supported method of verifying that the update has been applied. Also, in certain cases, files may be renamed during installation. If the file or version information is not present, use one of the other available methods to verify update installation.
Office SharePoint Server 2007 (all editions)
Reference Table
The following table contains the security update information for this software. You can find additional information in the subsection, Deployment Information, in this section.
| Inclusion in Future Service Packs | There are no more service packs planned for this software. The update for this issue may be included in a future update rollup. |
| Deployment | |
| Installing without user intervention | For Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007: office2007-kb955937-fullfile-x86-glb /passive For Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 x64 Edition: office2007-kb955937-fullfile-x64-glb /passive |
| Installing without restarting | For Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007: office2007-kb955937-fullfile-x86-glb /norestart For Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 x64 Edition: office2007-kb955937-fullfile-x64-glb /norestart |
| Update log file | Not applicable |
| Further information | For detection and deployment, see the earlier section, Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance. For features you can selectively install, see the Office Features for Administrative Installations subsection in this section. |
| Restart Requirement | |
| Restart required? | This update does not require a restart. |
| Hotpatching | Not applicable |
| Removal Information | This update can not be uninstalled. |
| File Information | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 956416 |
| Registry Key Verification | Not applicable |
Deployment Information
Installing the Update
You can install the update from the appropriate download link in the Affected and Non-Affected Software section. If you installed your application from a server location, the server administrator must instead update the server location with the administrative update and deploy that update to your system. For more information about Administrative Installation Points, refer to the Office Administrative Installation Point information in the Detection and deployment Tools and Guidance subsection.
This security update requires that Windows Installer 3.1 or later be installed on the system. All supported versions of Windows include Windows Installer 3.1 or a later version.
To install the latest version of Windows Installer, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
For more information about the terminology that appears in this bulletin, such as hotfix, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 824684.
This security update supports the following setup switches.
| Switch | Description |
|---|---|
| /? or /help | Displays usage dialog. |
| /passive | Specifies passive mode. Requires no user interaction; users see basic progress dialogs but cannot cancel. |
| /quiet | Specifies quiet mode, or suppresses prompts, when files are being extracted. |
| /norestart | Suppresses restarting the system if the update requires a restart. |
| /forcerestart | Automatically restarts the system after applying the update, regardless of whether the update requires the restart. |
| /extract | Extracts the files without installing them. You are prompted for a target folder. |
| /extract:<path> | Overrides the install command that is defined by author. Specifies the path and name of the Setup.inf or .exe file. |
| /lang:<LCID> | Forces the use of a specific language, when the update package supports that language. |
| /log:<log file> | Enables logging, by both Vnox and Installer, during the update installation. |
Note You can combine these switches into one command. For backward compatibility, the security update also supports many of the setup switches that the earlier version of the Setup program uses. For more information about the supported installation switches, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 262841.
Verifying that the Update Has Been Applied
- Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
To verify that a security update has been applied to an affected system, you may be able to use the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) tool. See the “Microsoft baseline Security Analyzer” heading under the section, Microsoft Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance.
- File Version Verification
Note Because there are several versions and editions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your system. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.
- Click Start, and then click Search.
- In the Search Results pane, click All files and folders under Search Companion.
- In the All or part of the file name box, type a file name from the appropriate file information table, and then click Search.
- In the list of files, right-click a file name from the appropriate file information table, and then click Properties.
Note Depending on the version of the operating system or programs installed, some of the files that are listed in the file information table may not be installed. - On the Version tab, determine the version of the file that is installed on your system by comparing it to the version that is documented in the appropriate file information table.
Note Attributes other than the file version may change during installation. Comparing other file attributes to the information in the file information table is not a supported method of verifying that the update has been applied. Also, in certain cases, files may be renamed during installation. If the file or version information is not present, use one of the other available methods to verify update installation.
Office 2004 for Mac
Deployment Information
Prerequisites
- Mac OS X version 10.2.8 or later on a G3, Mac OS X-compatible processor or higher
- Mac OS X user accounts must have administrator privileges to install this security update
Installing the Update
Download and install the appropriate language version of the Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.5.2 Update from the Microsoft Download Center.
- Quit any applications that are running, including virus-protection applications, all Microsoft Office applications, Microsoft Messenger for Mac, and Office Notifications, because they might interfere with installation.
- Open the Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.5.2 Update volume on your desktop. This step might have been performed for you.
- To start the update process, in the Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.5.2 Update volume window, double-click the Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.5.2 Update application, and follow the instructions on the screen.
- If the installation finishes successfully, you can remove the update installer from your hard disk. To verify that the installation finished successfully, see the following “Verifying Update Installation” heading. To remove the update installer, first drag the Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.5.2 Update volume to the Trash, and then drag the file that you downloaded to the Trash.
Verifying Update Installation
To verify that a security update is installed on an affected system, follow these steps:
- In the Finder, navigate to the Application Folder (Microsoft Office 2004: Office).
- Select the file, Microsoft Component Plugin.
- On the File menu, click Get Info or Show Info.
If the Version number is 11.5.2, the update has been successfully installed.
Restart Requirement
This update does not require you to restart your computer.
Removing the Update
This security update cannot be uninstalled.
Additional Information
If you have technical questions or problems downloading or using this update, visit Microsoft for Mac Support to learn about the support options that are available to you.
Office 2008 for Mac
Deployment Information
Prerequisites
- Mac OS X version 10.4.9 or later on an Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (500 MHz or faster) processor
- Mac OS X user accounts must have administrator privileges to install this security update
Installing the Update
Download and install the appropriate language version of the Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.3 Update from the Microsoft Download Center.
- Quit any applications that are running, including virus-protection applications, all Microsoft Office applications, Microsoft Messenger for Mac, and Office Notifications, because they might interfere with installation.
- Open the Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.3 Update volume on your desktop. This step might have been performed for you.
- To start the update process, in the Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.3 Update volume window, double-click the Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.3 Update application, and follow the instructions on the screen.
- If the installation finishes successfully, you can remove the update installer from your hard disk. To verify that the installation finished successfully, see the following “Verifying Update Installation” heading. To remove the update installer, first drag the Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.3 Update volume to the Trash, and then drag the file that you downloaded to the Trash.
Verifying Update Installation
To verify that a security update is installed on an affected system, follow these steps:
- In the Finder, navigate to the Application Folder (Microsoft Office 2008: Office).
- Select the file, Microsoft Component Plugin.
- On the File menu, click Get Info or Show Info.
If the Version number is 12.1.3, the update has been successfully installed.
Restart Requirement
This update does not require you to restart your computer.
Removing the Update
This security update cannot be uninstalled.
Additional Information
If you have technical questions or problems downloading or using this update, visit Microsoft for Mac Support to learn about the support options that are available to you.
Open XML File Format Converter for Mac
Deployment Information
Prerequisites
- Mac OS X version 10.4.9 or later on an Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (500 MHz or faster) processor
- Mac OS X user accounts must have administrator privileges to install this security update
Installing the Update
Download and install the appropriate language version of the Open XML File Format Converter for Mac 1.0.1 Update from the Microsoft Download Center.
- Quit any applications that are running, including virus-protection applications, all Microsoft Office applications, Microsoft Messenger for Mac, and Office Notifications, because they might interfere with installation.
- Open the Open XML File Format Converter for Mac 1.0.1 Update volume on your desktop. This step might have been performed for you.
- To start the update process, in the Open XML File Format Converter for Mac 1.0.1 Update volume window, double-click the Open XML File Format Converter for Mac 1.0.1 Update application, and follow the instructions on the screen.
- If the installation finishes successfully, you can remove the update installer from your hard disk. To verify that the installation finished successfully, see the following “Verifying Update Installation” heading. To remove the update installer, first drag the Open XML File Format Converter for Mac 1.0.1 Update volume to the Trash, and then drag the file that you downloaded to the Trash.
Verifying Update Installation
To verify that a security update is installed on an affected system, follow these steps:
- In the Finder, navigate to the Application Folder.
- Select the file, Open XML File Format Converter.
- On the File menu, click Get Info or Show Info.
If the Version number is 1.0.1, the update has been successfully installed.
Restart Requirement
This update does not require you to restart your computer.
Removing the Update
This security update cannot be uninstalled.
Additional Information
If you have technical questions or problems downloading or using this update, visit Microsoft for Mac Support to learn about the support options that are available to you.
Other Information
Acknowledgments
Microsoft thanks the following for working with us to help protect customers:
- Wushi, working with TippingPoint and the Zero Day Initiative, for reporting the File Format Parsing Vulnerability (CVE-2008-3471)
- Lionel d'Hauenens of Labo Skopia working with the iDefense VCP for reporting the Calendar Object Validation Vulnerability (CVE-2008-3477)
- Joshua J. Drake of iDefense for reporting the Calendar Object Validation Vulnerability (CVE-2008-3477)
- CHkr_D591, working with TippingPoint and the Zero Day Initiative, for reporting the the Formula Parsing Vulnerability (CVE-2008-4019)
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 (October 14, 2008): Bulletin published.
- V1.1 (October 15, 2008): Changed the Systems Management Server detection and deployment summary to "yes" for all supported versions of Microsoft Office Excel Viewer 2003 in the Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance section. This is an informational change only. There were no changes to the security update binaries or detection logic.
- V1.2 (October 29, 2008): Added entry to the section, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Related to This Security Update, to explain any additional security features included in this update for Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 2. Added missing entries for Excel 2003 Service Pack 3 to the section, Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance. Finally, corrected references to Windows Installer Redistributable in the section, Security Update Deployment. This is an informational change only. There were no changes to the security update binaries.