CVE-2014-1756

Untrusted search path vulnerability in Microsoft Office 2007 SP3, 2010 SP1 and SP2, and 2013 Gold, SP1, RT, and RT SP1, when the Simplified Chinese Proofing…

published May 14, 2014

CVSS
—
EPSS
9%
Percentile
95.1
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ A sneaky untrusted search path vulnerability lives in Microsoft Office, allowing local users to pull off a Trojan horse trick with a simple DLL! Think of it like leaving a box of chocolates on the table with a sign saying 'Take one!' — but you forgot to mention that anyone could replace it with a box of rocks. This vulnerability lets a crafty user drop in malicious code disguised as a legit file, potentially giving them unauthorized access. If exploited, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to gain elevated privileges on the system. Imagine a local user suddenly having the keys to the castle — they could execute malicious code, read sensitive documents, or even alter important files. 😱

Put simply

Think of it like leaving a box of chocolates on the table with a sign saying 'Take one!' — but you forgot to mention that anyone could replace it with a box of rocks. This vulnerability lets a crafty user drop in malicious code disguised as a legit file, potentially giving them unauthorized access. This vulnerability occurs when the Simplified Chinese Proofing Tool is enabled in Microsoft Office, allowing attackers to exploit a DLL in the working directory. By placing a specially crafted DLL file there, they can gain higher privileges than intended.

What to do

If exploited, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to gain elevated privileges on the system. Imagine a local user suddenly having the keys to the castle — they could execute malicious code, read sensitive documents, or even alter important files. 😱 To protect your system, ensure that all Microsoft Office installations are updated to the latest service packs. It's also wise to limit permissions in the working directory and regularly scan for unauthorized files. Keep an eye on your software to avoid unwanted surprises! 🛡️ You're already ahead of the game by being aware of this! Follow the steps, and you’ll keep your system safe and sound. You've got this! 🚀

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.08600 · 95.1th percentile
Published
2014-05-14T10:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 14 MAY 10:00Z
    Untrusted search path vulnerability in Microsoft Office 2007 SP3, 2010 SP1 and SP2, and 2013 Gold, SP1, RT, and RT SP1, when the Simplified Chinese Proofing…
    cvelistv5