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More Security Vulnerabilities Affect Word and Excel

12/02/2012 These vulnerabilities affect: All current versions of Microsoft Office for Windows and Mac (specifically Word and Excel). How an attacker exploits them: Typically, by enticing you to open maliciously crafted Office documents. Impact: An attacker can execute code, potentially gaining complete control of your computer. What to do: Install the appropriate Office patches immediately, or let Windows Update do it for you.

Summary:

  • These vulnerabilities affect: All current versions of Microsoft Office for Windows and Mac (specifically Word and Excel)
  • How an attacker exploits them: Typically, by enticing you to open maliciously crafted Office documents
  • Impact: An attacker can execute code, potentially gaining complete control of your computer
  • What to do: Install the appropriate Office patches immediately, or let Windows Update do it for you.

Exposure:

Today, Microsoft released two security bulletins describing 24 vulnerabilities found in components or programs that ship with Microsoft Office for Windows and Mac — more specifically, Word and Excel. Some of the vulnerabilities also affect the viewers, Office Compatibility Packs, and File Format Converters that ship with each program. Each vulnerability affects different versions of Office to a different extent.

The 24 flaws may affect different components and applications within Office, but the end result is always the same. By enticing one of your users into downloading and opening a maliciously crafted Office document, an attacker can exploit any of these vulnerabilities to execute code on a victim’s computer, usually inheriting that user’s level of privileges and permissions. If your user has local administrative privileges, the attacker gains full control of the user’s machine.

According to Microsoft’s bulletins, an attacker can exploit these flaws using two types of Office documents: Word (.doc) and Excel (.xls). So beware of all unexpected documents you receive with these file extensions.

If you’d like to learn more about each individual flaw, drill into the “Vulnerability Details” section of the security bulletins listed below:

  • MS10-079: Multiple Word Code Execution Vulnerabilities, rated Important
  • MS10-080: Multiple Excel Code Execution Vulnerabilities, rated Important

Solution Path

Microsoft has released patches for Office to correct all of these vulnerabilities. You should download, test, and deploy the appropriate patches throughout your network immediately.

Word update for:

Excel update for:

 4.50 out of 5 based on 2 reviews

More Security Vulnerabilities Affect Word and Excel

12/02/2012

Summary:

  • These vulnerabilities affect: All current versions of Microsoft Office for Windows and Mac (specifically Word and Excel)
  • How an attacker exploits them: Typically, by enticing you to open maliciously crafted Office documents
  • Impact: An attacker can execute code, potentially gaining complete control of your computer
  • What to do: Install the appropriate Office patches immediately, or let Windows Update do it for you.

Exposure:

Today, Microsoft released two security bulletins describing 24 vulnerabilities found in components or programs that ship with Microsoft Office for Windows and Mac — more specifically, Word and Excel. Some of the vulnerabilities also affect the viewers, Office Compatibility Packs, and File Format Converters that ship with each program. Each vulnerability affects different versions of Office to a different extent.

The 24 flaws may affect different components and applications within Office, but the end result is always the same. By enticing one of your users into downloading and opening a maliciously crafted Office document, an attacker can exploit any of these vulnerabilities to execute code on a victim’s computer, usually inheriting that user’s level of privileges and permissions. If your user has local administrative privileges, the attacker gains full control of the user’s machine.

According to Microsoft’s bulletins, an attacker can exploit these flaws using two types of Office documents: Word (.doc) and Excel (.xls). So beware of all unexpected documents you receive with these file extensions.

If you’d like to learn more about each individual flaw, drill into the “Vulnerability Details” section of the security bulletins listed below:

  • MS10-079: Multiple Word Code Execution Vulnerabilities, rated Important
  • MS10-080: Multiple Excel Code Execution Vulnerabilities, rated Important

Solution Path

Microsoft has released patches for Office to correct all of these vulnerabilities. You should download, test, and deploy the appropriate patches throughout your network immediately.

Word update for:

Excel update for:

Rating :
4.50 out of 5