CVE-2009-0556: Software Security Vulnerability Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-w25v-2mf8-86hr
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CVSS 8.8
CWE-94
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2009-0556 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.8) security vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')) affecting Software libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The weakness occurs when the product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment.. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2009-0556 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2009-0556
GHSA Identifier GHSA-w25v-2mf8-86hr
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.8
CWE Classification CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
Affected Product Software
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2009-0556

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Software dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2009-0556, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Software in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. In Software, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2000 SP3, 2002 SP3, and 2003 SP3, and PowerPoint in Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a PowerPoint file with an OutlineTextRefAtom containing an an invalid index value that triggers memory corruption, as exploited in the wild in April 2009 by Exploit:Win32/Apptom.gen, aka "Memory Corruption Vulnerability."

References

NVD — CVE-2009-0556 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-0556
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2009/ms09-017
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/496... WEB
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/49632
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6204
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6279
www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vul... WEB
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2009-0556
blogs.technet.com/mmpc/archive/2009/0... WEB
http://blogs.technet.com/mmpc/archive/2009/04/02/new-0-day-exploits-using-powerpoint-files.aspx
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://blogs.technet.com/msrc/archive/2009/04/02/microsoft-security-advisory-969136.aspx
blogs.technet.com/srd/archive/2009/04... WEB
http://blogs.technet.com/srd/archive/2009/04/02/investigating-the-new-powerpoint-issue.aspx
osvdb.org/53182 WEB
http://osvdb.org/53182
secunia.com/advisories/34572 WEB
http://secunia.com/advisories/34572
www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/627331 WEB
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/627331
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/969136.mspx
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/503453/100/0/threaded
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/34351
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1021967
www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/ta09... WEB
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-132A.html
www.vupen.com/english/advisories/... WEB
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/0915
www.vupen.com/english/advisories/... WEB
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1290
www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/zdi-09-0... WEB
http://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-09-019

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2009-0556?
CVE-2009-0556 is a security vulnerability in Software classified as a security vulnerability vulnerability under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection').
Which Software versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches.
What version fixes CVE-2009-0556?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2009-0556?
CVE-2009-0556 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2009-0556?
CVE-2009-0556 is classified under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') (The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2009-0556?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
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  "id" : "GHSA-w25v-2mf8-86hr",
  "modified" : "2026-01-07T21:31:35Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-02T03:16:36Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2009-0556" ],
  "details" : "Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2000 SP3, 2002 SP3, and 2003 SP3, and PowerPoint in Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a PowerPoint file with an OutlineTextRefAtom containing an an invalid index value that triggers memory corruption, as exploited in the wild in April 2009 by Exploit:Win32/Apptom.gen, aka \"Memory Corruption Vulnerability.\"",
  "severity" : [ {
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    "url" : "https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2009/ms09-017"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/49632"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6204"
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    "type" : "WEB",
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    "url" : "http://blogs.technet.com/mmpc/archive/2009/04/02/new-0-day-exploits-using-powerpoint-files.aspx"
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    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/627331"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/503453/100/0/threaded"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/34351"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1021967"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-132A.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/0915"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1290"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-09-019"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-94" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : false,
    "github_reviewed_at" : null,
    "nvd_published_at" : "2009-04-03T18:30:00Z"
  }
}