CVE DatabaseCVE-2024-7262
한국어 권고문 →
CVE-2024-72627.8/HIGHCISA KEVCWE-22CWE-22

Kingsoft WPS Office promecefpluginhost.exe Improper Path Validation Remote Code Execution (CVE-2024-7262)

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Affected Vendors
kingsoft
Affected Components
wps office
Published Date
2024-08-15
CVSS v3.1
7.8
HIGH
EPSS (30d)
3.1%
FIRST.org
CISA KEV
Exploited

Executive & SecOps Summary

SECOPS ASSESSMENT
Affected Scope

Kingsoft WPS Office on Windows, versions 12.2.0.13110 up to (but excluding) 12.2.0.16412

Impact

An attacker can achieve arbitrary Windows library (DLL) loading and remote code execution (RCE) by tricking a user into opening a specially crafted spreadsheet document

Mitigation

Immediately upgrade Kingsoft WPS Office to the patched version (12.2.0.16412 or higher) and restrict opening untrusted documents

Affected Products & Version Scope

Kingsoft WPS Office for Windows from version 12.2.0.13110 up to 12.2.0.16412 (exclusive)

Remediation & Live Workaround Commands

PATCH & WORKAROUND

1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands

Download and install the latest secure version (12.2.0.16412 or later) from the official WPS Office website. You can use the following PowerShell commands to terminate active processes and prepare for the upgrade.

powershell
# Terminate active WPS Office processes to allow clean installation/update
$wpsProcesses = @('wps', 'wpp', 'et', 'promecefpluginhost')
foreach ($proc in $wpsProcesses) {
    Stop-Process -Name $proc -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
Write-Host 'WPS Office processes terminated. Please run the official installer to upgrade to 12.2.0.16412 or higher.'

2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration

If immediate patching is not feasible, restrict execution permissions on the vulnerable promecefpluginhost.exe binary using Windows Access Control Lists (ACLs).

powershell
# Restrict execution permissions on promecefpluginhost.exe using PowerShell
$targetFile = Get-ChildItem -Path 'C:\Users\*\AppData\Local\Kingsoft\WPS Office\*' -Filter 'promecefpluginhost.exe' -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
foreach ($file in $targetFile) {
    $acl = Get-Acl -Path $file.FullName
    $denyRule = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemAccessRule('Everyone', 'ExecuteFile', 'Deny')
    $acl.AddAccessRule($denyRule)
    Set-Acl -Path $file.FullName -AclObject $acl
    Write-Host 'Execution blocked for: ' $file.FullName
}

3. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands

Run the following script to audit endpoint systems and identify if any vulnerable versions of WPS Office are currently installed.

powershell
# Audit script to detect vulnerable WPS Office installations
$registryPaths = @(
    'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*',
    'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*'
)
Get-ItemProperty -Path $registryPaths -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | 
Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like '*WPS Office*' } | 
ForEach-Object {
    $version = [version]$_.DisplayVersion
    if ($version -ge [version]'12.2.0.13110' -and $version -lt [version]'12.2.0.16412') {
        Write-Warning "VULNERABLE: $($_.DisplayName) version $version detected."
    } else {
        Write-Host "SECURE: $($_.DisplayName) version $version is safe."
    }
}
Interactive SecOps Remediation Checklist
0/4 (0%)
Recommended Security Control & Mitigation Partner
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Due to active exploitation in the wild, immediately upgrade all Windows WPS Office installations to version 12.2.0.16412 or higher.

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Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics

1. Vulnerability Overview & Root Cause

This vulnerability (CVE-2024-7262) is an improper path validation issue (CWE-22) residing in promecefpluginhost.exe, a component of Kingsoft WPS Office for Windows. The application fails to properly sanitize and validate file paths passed to the plugin hosting process, allowing directory traversal sequences to point to arbitrary locations.

2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario

The vulnerability has been observed weaponized in the wild as a highly effective 'single-click' exploit. Attackers distribute malicious spreadsheet files (.xls/.xlsx) designed to trigger the execution of promecefpluginhost.exe with manipulated parameters. When a victim opens the document, the application processes the embedded link or object, leading to the loading and execution of an arbitrary attacker-controlled DLL from a local or network share path.

3. Infrastructure & Business Impact

Given its inclusion in the CISA KEV catalog, this vulnerability represents a severe threat vector actively exploited by advanced threat actors. Successful exploitation grants the attacker the security context of the logged-in user, potentially leading to full system compromise, lateral movement within the corporate network, and unauthorized data exfiltration.

Official Vendor Advisories & References

NVD Original English Description

Improper path validation in promecefpluginhost.exe in Kingsoft WPS Office version ranging from 12.2.0.13110 to 12.2.0.16412 (exclusive) on Windows allows an attacker to load an arbitrary Windows library. The vulnerability was found weaponized as a single-click exploit in the form of a deceptive spreadsheet document

Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2024-7262)

FAQ

Q1. How critical is CVE-2024-7262 and is it actively exploited in the wild?

CVE-2024-7262 is rated CVSS 7.8 (HIGH) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 3.1%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.

Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2024-7262?

Primary impacted vendors include kingsoft across wps office. Scope summary: Kingsoft WPS Office for Windows from version 12.2.0.13110 up to 12.2.0.16412 (exclusive)

Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2024-7262 before patching?

[Mitigation] Immediately upgrade Kingsoft WPS Office to the patched version (12.2.0.16412 or higher) and restrict opening untrusted documents Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.

SECOPS WORKBENCH INTEGRATION

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CVE-2024-7262 Kingsoft WPS Office promecefpluginhost.exe Improper Path Validation Remote Code Execution (CVE-2024-7262) (CVSS 7.8) - Patch & Workaround | CVE Pulse