[NT] Outlook2000 Animated Assistant & Password Protected Screen Saver Vulnerability

From: support@securiteam.com
Date: 08/30/01 

From: support@securiteam.com
To: list@securiteam.com
Subject: [NT] Outlook2000 Animated Assistant & Password Protected Screen Saver Vulnerability
Message-Id: <20010830190413.67429138BF@mail.der-keiler.de>
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 21:04:13 +0200 (CEST)

The following security advisory is sent to the securiteam mailing list, and can be found at the SecuriTeam web site: http://www.securiteam.com
- - promotion

When was the last time you checked your server's security?
How about a monthly report?
http://www.AutomatedScanning.com - Know that you're safe.
- - - - - - - - -

  Outlook2000 Animated Assistant & Password Protected Screen Saver
Vulnerability
------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY

Outlook 2000 includes a feature called Animated Assistant. This feature
prevents the activation of the screen saver whenever animated assistant is
active. This exposes a security vulnerability, since the security policy
of locking the workstation doesn't affect those workstations that have the
animated assistant feature enabled.

DETAILS

A problem in the way that the inactivity mechanism used in the Windows
operating system incorrectly detects the user inactivity period whenever
Outlook 2000's Animated Assistant is enabled. This causes it not to
activate the screen saver, resulting in the desktop not getting
automatically locked.

Workaround:
Lock the workstation manually via: CTRL-ALT-DEL and click on Lock.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The information has been provided by <mailto:AUpadhyay@OHIOSAVINGS.COM>
Upadhyay, Anand.

========================================

This bulletin is sent to members of the SecuriTeam mailing list.
To unsubscribe from the list, send mail with an empty subject line and body to: list-unsubscribe@securiteam.com
In order to subscribe to the mailing list, simply forward this email to: list-subscribe@securiteam.com

====================
====================

DISCLAIMER:
The information in this bulletin is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind.
In no event shall we be liable for any damages whatsoever including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, loss of business profits or special damages.

Relevant Pages

  • RE: [Full-Disclosure] Networking security problem?
    ... and Windows XP security is like comparing chalk with cheese! ... And the screen saver password is only to lock out the screen and keyboard - ... seems OK, but OS and network ... The particular NIC was in a payroll machine with obviously very ...
    (Full-Disclosure)
  • [Full-Disclosure] RE: NetWare Screensaver Authentication Bypass From The Local Console
    ... If the screen saver was intended to be bypassed and not to be a security ... > method of hacking servers. ... >> Novacoast has discovered a vulnerability in the Novell NetWare Operating ...
    (Full-Disclosure)
  • RE: Screen Saver Lock Event ID
    ... the screen saver event in Security log by the following steps: ... If the user manually locks their computer, ... for either when the screen saver locks itself or if a ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.configuration_manage)
  • Re: Best Practice for Screen Savers
    ... Don't take personal offense to this, perhaps your security requirements ... without enforcing it. ... I think suggesting to user that "best practice" is XYZ. ... >>set my companies screen saver password timeout to. ...
    (Security-Basics)
  • Keeping the screen saver away
    ... I was wondering what windows message I can send to ... the Windows CE OS so that a security application or screen saver would ... consider an Bluetooth or serial connection as having the PDA ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsce.embedded.vc)