Alerts
Alerts
Zero-Day Tracker
Common Name:
Excel nanika.xls
Date Disclosed:
6/14/2006
Date Patched:
10/10/2006
Vendor:
Microsoft
Application:
Excel 2003
Excel XP
Excel 2000
Office 2004 for Mac
Office v.X for Mac
Description:
A remote code execution vulnerability exists within Microsoft Excel which may allow for a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code under the context of the logged in user. This vulnerability requires user interaction. In a web-based scenario (e-mail, Web site), a user would still have to open a file manually, as it would not be auto-opened.
Severity:
High
Code Execution:
Yes
Impact:
Arbitrary code execution under the context of the logged in user
This client-side file-format vulnerability has high impact potential for targeted attacks against networks. These attacks could be used to gain sensitive information, install botnet software, as well as many other common exploitations. Although Excel files are not auto-opened by most web browsers and e-mail clients, the severity of this vulnerability should not be overlooked.
Mitigation:
Since this vulnerability is patched, the primary mitigation for this vulnerability would be to apply MS06-059. However, another reliable mitigation for the known attack vector is to configure the 'InstallLanguage' registry value to 'Non-Double Byte characters (DBCS)' as outlined in the Microsoft Patch advisory.
Protection:
Microsoft Patch - MS06-059
Links:
CVE-2006-3431
First Public PoC Code Disclosure (Malicious Payload - Reverse Shell)
Status:
10/10/2006: Patched - MS06-059
Common Name:
Excel nanika.xls
Date Disclosed:
6/14/2006
Date Patched:
10/10/2006
Vendor:
Microsoft
Application:
Excel 2003
Excel XP
Excel 2000
Office 2004 for Mac
Office v.X for Mac
Description:
A remote code execution vulnerability exists within Microsoft Excel which may allow for a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code under the context of the logged in user. This vulnerability requires user interaction. In a web-based scenario (e-mail, Web site), a user would still have to open a file manually, as it would not be auto-opened.
Severity:
High
Code Execution:
Yes
Impact:
Arbitrary code execution under the context of the logged in user
This client-side file-format vulnerability has high impact potential for targeted attacks against networks. These attacks could be used to gain sensitive information, install botnet software, as well as many other common exploitations. Although Excel files are not auto-opened by most web browsers and e-mail clients, the severity of this vulnerability should not be overlooked.
Mitigation:
Since this vulnerability is patched, the primary mitigation for this vulnerability would be to apply MS06-059. However, another reliable mitigation for the known attack vector is to configure the 'InstallLanguage' registry value to 'Non-Double Byte characters (DBCS)' as outlined in the Microsoft Patch advisory.
Protection:
- eEye's Blink® Personal Edition protects from this vulnerability.
- eEye's Blink® Professional Edition protects from this vulnerability.
- eEye's Retina® Network Security Scanner scans devices to detect for this vulnerability.
Microsoft Patch - MS06-059
Links:
CVE-2006-3431
First Public PoC Code Disclosure (Malicious Payload - Reverse Shell)
Status:
10/10/2006: Patched - MS06-059
