CVE-2019-0801: Microsoft Office Protocol Handler Directory Traversal File Creation Vulnerability

Published Apr 9, 2019
·
Updated

A remote code execution vulnerability exists when Microsoft Office fails to properly handle certain files.To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker would have to convince a user to open a specially crafted URL file that points to an Excel or PowerPoint file that was also downloaded.The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Office handles these files., aka 'Office Remote Code Execution Vulnerability'.

Other sources

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to create files in arbitrary locations on vulnerable installations of Microsoft Office. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the implementation of URL protocol handlers for various types of Office documents. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of a user-supplied path prior to using it in file operations. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to create a file in the context of the current user.

Affected Software

7 affected components
Microsoft Office=2010-sp2
Microsoft Office=2013-sp1
Microsoft Office=2013-sp1
Microsoft Office=2016
Microsoft Office=2019
Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus
Microsoft Office

Event History

Apr 9, 2019
CVE Published
via MITRE·08:15 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·08:15 PM
DescriptionWeakness
Feb 27, 2025
Advisory Published
via ZDI·05:00 AM

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is CVE-2019-0801?

CVE-2019-0801 is a vulnerability that allows remote attackers to create files in arbitrary locations on vulnerable installations of Microsoft Office.

2

How does CVE-2019-0801 exploit the vulnerability?

To exploit CVE-2019-0801, user interaction is required, either by visiting a malicious page or opening a malicious file.

3

Which software versions are affected by CVE-2019-0801?

Microsoft Office 2010 SP2, Microsoft Office 2013 SP1, Microsoft Office 2016, Microsoft Office 2019, and Microsoft Office 365 Proplus are affected by CVE-2019-0801.

4

What is the severity level of CVE-2019-0801?

CVE-2019-0801 has a severity level of 7.8 (high).

5

How can I fix CVE-2019-0801?

To fix CVE-2019-0801, it is recommended to apply the necessary security updates provided by Microsoft for affected Microsoft Office versions.

Contact

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