MSN Heartbeat Control Buffer Overflow

From: NGSSoftware Insight Security Research (nisr_at_NEXTGENSS.COM)
Date: 01/19/05

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    Date:         Wed, 19 Jan 2005 16:54:46 -0000
To: NTBUGTRAQ@LISTSERV.NTBUGTRAQ.COM

    NGSSoftware Insight Security Research Advisory

    Name: MSN Heartbeat Control Buffer Overflow
    Systems Affected: Microsoft Internet Explorer with the MSN Heartbeat Control
    Severity: High
    Vendor URL: http://zone.msn.com/
    Author: John Heasman [ john@ngssoftware.com ]
    Date of Public Advisory: 19th January 2004
    Advisory number: #NISR19012005d
    Advisory URL: http://www.ngssoftware.com/advisories/heartbeatfull.txt
    Reference: http://www.ngssoftware.com/advisories/heartbeat.txt

    Description
    ***********

    A vulnerability has been discovered in the MSN Heartbeat ActiveX component
    which can allow remote code execution through Internet Explorer.

    This component is installed by some MSN gaming sites and is marked safe
    for scripting by default.

    Details
    *******

    When initialising the Heartbeat control in a webpage, there are several
    parameters which must be set to access the functionality within the
    control, such as urls and filenames. When providing an overly string for
    the SetupData parameter, a heap based buffer overflow occurs. A reliable
    arbitrary dword overwrite is possible, and it is trivial to exploit this
    flaw.

    Fix Information
    ***************

    Microsoft have released an update for the MSN Heartbeat component which
    addresses this issue.

    This can be downloaded from:

    http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS04-038.mspx

    A check for this vulnerability has been added to Typhon III, NGSSoftware's
    advanced vulnerability assessment scanner. For more information please
    visit the NGSSoftware website at http://www.ngssoftware.com/

    About NGSSoftware
    *****************

    NGSSoftware design, research and develop intelligent, advanced application
    security assessment scanners. Based in the United Kingdom, NGSSoftware
    have offices in the South of London and the East Coast of Scotland.
    NGSSoftware's sister company NGSConsulting, offers best of breed security
    consulting services, specialising in application, host and network
    security assessments.

    http://www.ngssoftware.com/

    Telephone +44 208 401 0070
    Fax +44 208 401 0076

    enquiries@ngssoftware.com 

    --
NTBugtraq Editor's Note:
Most viruses these days use spoofed email addresses. As such, using an Anti-Virus product which automatically notifies the perceived sender of a message it believes is infected may well cause more harm than good. Someone who did not actually send you a virus may receive the notification and scramble their support staff to find an infection which never existed in the first place. Suggest such notifications be disabled by whomever is responsible for your AV, or at least that the idea is considered.
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