Microsoft Office Excel And IBM WebSphere Vulnerability
CVE-2015-32704 — Microsoft Office Excel Buffer Over-Read Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2025-32704 is a buffer over-read vulnerability in Microsoft Office Excel that allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally on the victim's machine. The flaw arises because Excel reads data beyond the intended buffer boundaries, which can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability has a high severity score (CVSS 3.1 base score around 8.4), indicating a significant risk of exploitation.
Technical Details
Type: Buffer over-read
Impact: Local code execution
Attack Vector: Requires user interaction (opening a malicious Excel file)
Privileges Required: Low (local user)
Scope: Unchanged (attack affects only the vulnerable component)
Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability Impact: High
The vulnerability occurs when Excel processes specially crafted spreadsheet files that cause it to read memory outside the allocated buffer, potentially allowing execution of attacker-controlled code.
Sample Scenario
An attacker crafts a malicious Excel spreadsheet containing specially designed data that triggers the buffer over-read. The attacker then convinces a user to open this file, for example, by sending it as an email attachment disguised as an invoice or report. When the user opens the file in Excel, the buffer over-read occurs, enabling the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the victim’s machine with the privileges of the user running Excel. This could lead to installation of malware, data theft, or further network compromise.
Mitigation
Apply the latest Microsoft security patches for Office Excel.
Employ email filtering and endpoint protection to block malicious attachments.
Educate users about the risks of opening unsolicited Excel files.
CVE-2015-0133 — IBM WebSphere Commerce XML External Entity (XXE) Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2015-0133 is an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability found in IBM WebSphere Commerce versions 7.0 Feature Pack 4 through 8. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files on the server and possibly gain administrative privileges by exploiting XML parsing flaws.
Technical Details
Type: XML External Entity (XXE) Injection
Impact: Remote file disclosure and potential privilege escalation
Attack Vector: Network (remote)
Privileges Required: None (unauthenticated)
Confidentiality Impact: High (disclosure of sensitive files)
Integrity and Availability Impact: Possible depending on further exploitation
The vulnerability arises because the XML parser processes external entity references without proper restrictions, allowing attackers to craft XML payloads that retrieve local files or perform server-side request forgery.
Sample Scenario
An attacker sends a specially crafted XML request to the WebSphere Commerce server, embedding an external entity declaration that references sensitive files on the server (e.g., /etc/passwd). The server processes the XML and returns the contents of the file to the attacker. With this information, the attacker can gather credentials or configuration details to further compromise the system.
Mitigation
Update IBM WebSphere Commerce to a patched version.
Disable external entity processing in XML parsers.
Implement input validation and web application firewalls.
CVE-2015-27750 — Microsoft Office Excel Use-After-Free Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2025-27750 is a use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Office Excel that allows an unauthorized attacker to execute arbitrary code locally. This flaw occurs when Excel improperly manages memory, freeing an object but continuing to use it, leading to memory corruption and potential code execution.
Technical Details
Type: Use-after-free
Impact: Local code execution
Attack Vector: Requires user to open a malicious Excel file
Privileges Required: Low (local user)
Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability Impact: High
This vulnerability is critical because it can be exploited by crafting malicious Excel files that, when opened, trigger the use-after-free condition, allowing execution of attacker-controlled code.
Sample Scenario
An attacker creates a malicious Excel file that exploits the use-after-free vulnerability. The attacker sends this file to a target user via email or social engineering. When the user opens the file in Excel, the vulnerability triggers, allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code with the user's privileges. This could lead to malware installation or further network penetration.
Mitigation
Apply Microsoft’s security updates addressing this vulnerability.
Use antivirus and endpoint detection systems to detect malicious Excel files.
Train users to avoid opening suspicious attachments.
Summary Table
| CVE ID | Vulnerability Type | Affected Product | Impact | Attack Vector | Sample Exploit Scenario |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2025-32704 | Buffer Over-read | Microsoft Office Excel | Local code execution | Opening malicious file | User opens crafted Excel file causing buffer over-read and code execution |
| CVE-2015-0133 | XML External Entity (XXE) | IBM WebSphere Commerce | Remote file disclosure | Network request | Attacker sends crafted XML to read sensitive server files |
| CVE-2025-27750 | Use-After-Free | Microsoft Office Excel | Local code execution | Opening malicious file | User opens malicious Excel file triggering use-after-free and code execution |
These vulnerabilities illustrate the critical importance of patching software promptly and practicing safe handling of untrusted files and inputs. The Excel vulnerabilities (CVE-2025-32704 and CVE-2025-27750) require user interaction but can lead to severe compromise, while the IBM WebSphere Commerce XXE vulnerability (CVE-2015-0133) allows remote attackers to access sensitive information without authentication.