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Update Protection against Microsoft Word Malformed Data Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (MS08-042)

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Check Point Reference: CPAI-2008-097
Date Published:
Severity:
Last Updated:
Source: Microsoft Security Advisory (953635)
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-042
Industry Reference(s): CVE-2008-2244
Protection Provided by: Security Gateway
  • R70
VPN-1
  • NGX R65
  • NGX R62
  • NGX R61
  • NGX R60
VSX
  • NGX R65
IPS-1
  • IPS-1
  • IPS-1 NGX R65
Who is Vulnerable?
Microsoft Word 2002 SP3
Vulnerability Description
A remote code execution vulnerability has been identified in Microsoft Word. Microsoft Word is a popular word processing software. A remote attacker could exploit this issue via a malformed Word file. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may allow execution of arbitrary code on a target system.
Update/Patch Available
Apply patches:
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-042
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is due to a memory corruption error in Microsoft Word that fails to properly handle specially crafted Word files that include malformed data. A remote attacker could trigger this flaw by convincing a victim to open a specially crafted Word file. Successful exploitation of this issue may corrupt system memory allowing execution of arbitrary code on a vulnerable system.

Protection Overview
By enabling this protection, SmartDefense will detect and block the transferring of malformed Word files over HTTP. IPS-1 will detect and block MS Word files containing malformed SmartTag records.

In order for the protection to be activated, update your IPS/VPN-1 product to the latest IPS/SmartDefense update. For information on how to update IPS/SmartDefense, go to SBP-2006-05, Protection tab and select the version of your choice.

To configure the defense, select your product from the list below and follow the related protection steps.

Security Gateway R70

How Can I Protect My Network?
1. In the IPS tab, click Protections > By Protocol > Application Intelligence > Content Protection.
2. In the right pane, double-click the Microsoft Word Crafted SmartTag Record Code Execution (MS08-042) protection.
3. In the Protection Details window, click on Edit. Choose the protection's Action (Override IPS Policy with: Prevent/Detect), and apply Additional Settings.
4. Install policy on all modules.

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?
SmartView Tracker will log the following entries:

Attack Name: Content Protection Violation
Attack Information: Microsoft Word crafted SmartTag record code execution (MS08-042)

VPN-1 NGX R65 & R62

How Can I Protect My Network?
1. In the SmartDefense tab, click Application Intelligence > Content Protection > Block Microsoft Word Malformed Data Vulnerability.
2. In the configuration pane, under Settings > Mode, check Active.
3. Install policy on all modules.

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?
SmartView Tracker will log the following entries:

Attack Name: Content Protection Violation
Attack Information: Microsoft Word malformed data vulnerability detected

VPN-1 NGX R61 & R60

How Can I Protect My Network?
1. In the SmartDefense tree, click Application Intelligence > Content Protection.
2. Select the following:

Block Microsoft Word Malformed Data Vulnerability

3. Install policy on all modules.

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?
SmartView Tracker will log the following entries:

Attack Name: Content Protection Violation
Attack Information: Microsoft Word malformed data vulnerability detected

VPN-1 VSX NGX R65

How Can I Protect My Network?
1. In the SmartDefense tab, click Application Intelligence > Content Protection > Block Microsoft Word Malformed Data Vulnerability.
2. In the configuration pane, under Settings > Mode, check Active.
3. Install policy on all modules.

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?
SmartView Tracker will log the following entries:

Attack Name: Content Protection Violation
Attack Information: Microsoft Word malformed data vulnerability detected

IPS-1 & IPS-1 NGX R65

How Can I Protect My Network?

1. In the IPS-1 Policy Manager, click on the Protection tab.
2. In the Protection tree, click Application Intelligence > Badfiles, and select the Microsoft Office Parser protection group.
3. Click CVE-2008-2244 Microsoft Word Crafted SmartTag Record (MS08-042) - IPS-1 NGX R65 only.
4. In the configuration pane, under Settings, check Active.
5. Click on Install Policy.

 

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?
Upon attack, the following entries will be logged:

Alert Name: Vulnerability in MS-Office file
Description: CVE-2008-2244 Microsoft Word Crafted SmartTag Record (MS08-042)