Microsoft PowerPoint (CVE-2011-1270) Remote Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

Description

Microsoft PowerPoint is prone to a remote buffer-overflow vulnerability. An attacker can exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application. Failed exploit attempts will cause a denial-of-service condition.

Technologies Affected

• Microsoft PowerPoint 2002 SP1
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2002
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2002 SP2
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2002 SP3
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2003
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 SP1
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 SP2
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 SP3

Recommendations

Run all software as a nonprivileged user with minimal access rights.
To reduce the impact of latent vulnerabilities, always run nonadministrative software as an unprivileged user with minimal access rights.

Deploy network intrusion detection systems to monitor network traffic for malicious activity.
Deploy NIDS to monitor network traffic for signs of anomalous or suspicious activity. This includes but is not limited to requests that include NOP sleds and unexplained incoming and outgoing traffic. This may indicate exploit attempts or activity that results from a successful exploit.

Do not accept or execute files from untrusted or unknown sources.
To reduce the likelihood of successful exploits, never handle files that originate from unfamiliar or untrusted sources.

Implement multiple redundant layers of security.
Since this issue may be leveraged to execute code, we recommend memory-protection schemes, such as nonexecutable stack/heap configurations and randomly mapped memory segments. This tactic may complicate exploits of memory-corruption vulnerabilities.

Vendor updates are available. Please see the references for more information.