#Office for mac .doc disabled macros software
#Office for mac .doc disabled macros code
#Office for mac .doc disabled macros windows

Presumably with the goal of simplifying the options presented to the user, Office 2010 changed the Message Bar functionality: The default is to block macros, but the user is given the option of enabling them on the same screen that clearly indicates the risk.

Open the Trust Center - Open a dialog that allows macros to be disabled without prompting the user:.

Enable this content - Open the document with macros enabled once OK is clicked.

Cancel - Close dialog, but leave warning bar at the top.

Options - Display additional information and options at the same time:įrom this dialog, there are several options:.

Here, the warning bar isn't very clear about the potential consequences of macros. Presumably this was done to avoid the ' dialog fatigue' problem that could lead users to give in and make a poor decision.

Office 2007 appears to be the first version of Office where the traditional dialogs have been abandoned. Office XP has similar dialogs, functionality, and help as Office 2000 and Office XP. Office XP has similar dialogs, functionality, and help as Office 2000.

Help - Give the user details about the risks of opening a document with macros:.

OK - Open the document, but with macros disabled.

However, the possible actions to take are safer for the user: Starting with Office 2000, the dialog was a little less informative.

Tell Me More - Give the user details about the risks of opening a document with macros:Įven with these warnings, the Melissa macro virus still spread in 1999.

Enable Macros - Open the document with macros enabled.

Disable Macros - Open the document, but with macros disabled.

Microsoft Office 97 was pretty clear that enabling macros can harm your computer: However, both of these aspects of enabling macros have changed over the versions of Office for Windows. Microsoft Office for has provided some level of warning to the user, and has required some steps to enable macros before they are executed. Word does give me a warning about the document having a macro, but how well does the program convey the potential dangers of enabling the macro? A Trip Down Memory Lane

#Office for mac .doc disabled macros windows

The screenshot below is from Office 2013 running on Windows 7. As a proof of concept, I made a simple Word document that launches calc.exe by way of a one-line VBScript macro. Microsoft Office macros can help automate repetitive tasks, but in the end they are equivalent to running native code. Malicious Microsoft Office documents that leverage macros are exploiting capabilities that are provided by Microsoft Office by design. This weakness was used by the Stuxnet worm.

#Office for mac .doc disabled macros code

For example, consider the Microsoft Windows design flaw that caused Windows to automatically execute code that is specified in shortcut files. The benefit of such weaknesses is that they can work universally. Exploiting Design Weaknessesĭesign weaknesses are a much more valuable target for an attacker, as opposed to an implementation flaw that relies on memory corruption, for example. Attackers look for the widest range of compatibility for their exploits. In some cases, an exploit for a vulnerability may only work on very specific targets.

#Office for mac .doc disabled macros software

What version of the vulnerable software is being used?.

Successful and reliable exploitation can rely on a number of variables, such as Using implementation bugs, such as ones that can be found through fuzzing, can be viable for an attacker.

Exploiting VulnerabilitiesĪttackers like to target weaknesses in the design of an application whenever possible. Why is everything old new again? Reliability of the exploit is one reason, but the user interface of Microsoft Office is also to blame. We even published an FAQ about the Melissa virus that suggests to disable macros in Microsoft Office products. In 1999, CERT actually published an advisory about the Melissa virus, which leveraged macros to spread. Funny thing is I could still run macro even though it is set as 'Disable all macros with noitification.Recently, there has been a resurgence of malware that is spread via Microsoft Word macro capabilities. You are right it is blocked by group policy. You may need to use the gpupdate /force command to have this change to take effect.Īnswers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. User Configuration/Administrative Templates/Microsoft Excel 2010/Excel Options/Security/Trust Center/Trusted Locations/VBA Macro Notification Settings Enabled If you are now home alone, try to check your group policy settings. Generally, these options could be disabled by group policy settings controlled by your domain admins, if so, you could hardly to make a change without permission from them. I'd like to know whether you are now alone in your home using the Excel 2010 or you are working in your company in an Enterprise environment?