Listen to this Post
Source: thehackernews.com
You Should Know:
Exploit 1: Macro-Based Malware Attacks
Despite Microsoft disabling macros by default, attackers still trick users into enabling them via social engineering.
Practice-Verified Commands & Steps:
- Check Macro Settings in Word:
Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Word\Security" -Name "VBAWarnings"
(1 = Disabled, 2 = Enabled with warning, 4 = Enabled without warning)
Disable Macros via GPO (Windows):
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Word\Security" /v "VBAWarnings" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
Audit Macro Usage (Linux):
strings suspicious.doc | grep -i "autoopen|autoclose"
Exploit 2: OLE (Object Linking & Embedding) Injection
Attackers embed malicious objects (e.g., PowerShell scripts) in Office files.
Practice-Verified Defenses:
- Block OLE Objects via Registry:
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Word\Security" -Name "EmbeddedFiles" -Value 1
Inspect OLE Objects in Linux:
oledump.py -d suspicious.xlsx
Extract Embedded Payloads:
python3 oleobj extract malicious.doc -o output_dir
Exploit 3: Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) Exploitation
DDE allows Office apps to fetch external data, abused for code execution.
Practice-Verified Mitigations:
- Disable DDE via Registry:
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Word\Security" -Name "DDEAllowed" -Value 0
Detect DDE Attacks (Linux):
grep -r "DDEAUTO" ~/Downloads/
Monitor DDE Processes (Windows):
tasklist /v | findstr /i "cmd.exe powershell.exe"
What Undercode Say
Office exploits remain a prime attack vector. Always:
- Disable Macros, OLE, DDE where unnecessary.
- Use Sandboxing (e.g., Windows Sandbox, Firejail):
firejail --private --net=none libreoffice file.doc
- Inspect Files Before Opening:
exiftool suspicious.docx
- Monitor Process Creation (Windows):
Get-WinEvent -FilterHashtable @{LogName='Security'; ID=4688} -MaxEvents 10 - Deploy EMET or ASR Rules for advanced protection.
Expected Output:
A hardened Office environment with macros/OLE/DDE disabled, monitored process execution, and proactive file inspection. Stay vigilant! 🚨
References:
Reported By: Florian Hansemann – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
