Alert: Microsoft Security Bulletin - MS02-072
From: Russ (Russ.Cooper@RC.ON.CA)
Date: 12/19/02
- Previous message: Russ: "Administrivia: The 5th Annual NTBugtraq Retreat - Paypal now accepted"
- Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ] [ attachment ]
Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2002 18:11:11 -0500 From: Russ <Russ.Cooper@RC.ON.CA> To: NTBUGTRAQ@LISTSERV.NTBUGTRAQ.COM
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-072.asp
Unchecked Buffer in Windows Shell Could Enable System Compromise (329390)
Originally posted: December 18, 2002
Summary
Who should read this bulletin: Customers using Microsoft ® Windows ® XP
Impact of vulnerability: Run code of an attacker's choice
Maximum Severity Rating: Critical
Recommendation: Customers using Microsoft Windows XP should apply the patch immediately.
Affected Software:
- Windows XP Home Edition
- Windows XP Professional
- Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
- Windows XP Media Center EditionEnd User Bulletin: An end user version of this bulletin is available at: http://www.microsoft.com/security/security_bulletins/ms02-072.asp.
Technical description:
The Windows Shell is responsible for providing the basic framework of the Windows user interface experience. It is most familiar to users as the Windows Desktop, but also provides a variety of other functions to help define the user's computing session, including organizing files and folders, and providing the means to start applications.
An unchecked buffer exists in one of the functions used by the Windows Shell to extract custom attribute information from audio files. A security vulnerability results because it is possible for a malicious user to mount a buffer overrun attack and attempt to exploit this flaw.
An attacker could seek to exploit this vulnerability by creating an .MP3 or .WMA file that contained a corrupt custom attribute and then host it on a website, on a network share, or send it via an HTML email. If a user were to hover his or her mouse pointer over the icon for the file (either on a web page or on the local disk), or open the shared folder where the file was stored, the vulnerable code would be invoked. An HTML email could cause the vulnerable code to be invoked when a user opened or previewed the email. A successful attack could have the effect of either causing the Windows Shell to fail, or causing an attacker's code to run on the user's computer in the security context of the user.
Mitigating factors:
- The vulnerability lies in the Windows Shell, rather than Windows Media Player. As a result, playing an audio file with Windows Media Player would not pose any additional risk.
- Outlook 98 and 2000 (after installing the Outlook Email Security Update), Outlook 2002, and Outlook Express 6 all open HTML mail in the Restricted Sites Zone. Customers who are using these products and who have also installed Windows XP Service Pack 1 or any recent security patch for Internet Explorer that disables frames in the Restricted Sites zone would not be at risk from automated email-borne attacks. However, these customers could still be attacked if they choose to click on a hyperlink in a malicious HTML email.
- In the case where an attacker's code was executed, the code would run in the security context of the user. As a result, any limitations on the user's ability would also restrict the actions that an attacker's code could take.
Vulnerability identifier: CAN-2002-1327
This email is sent to NTBugtraq automatically as a service to my subscribers. Since its programmatically created, and since its been a long time since anyone paid actual money for my programming skills, it may or may not look that good...;-]
I can only hope that the information it does contain can be read well enough to serve its purpose.
Cheers,
Russ - Surgeon General of TruSecure Corporation/NTBugtraq Editor
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Delivery co-sponsored by TruSecure Corporation
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of core IT Security, become
TICSA certified.
Are you responsible for IT security in job function, but not necessarily
in title? Do you want to prove your IT security knowledge and increase
opportunities? Interested? Visit;
http://www.trusecure.com/solutions/certifications/ticsa/
for more information.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
- Next message: Mitja Kolsek (ACROS Lists): "Security Paper: Session Fixation Vulnerability in Web-based Applications"
- Previous message: Russ: "Administrivia: The 5th Annual NTBugtraq Retreat - Paypal now accepted"
- Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ] [ attachment ]
Relevant Pages
|
|
