[NT] Vulnerability in Windows Shell Could Allow Remote Code Execution (MS04-024)

From: SecuriTeam (support_at_securiteam.com)
Date: 07/14/04

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      Vulnerability in Windows Shell Could Allow Remote Code Execution
    (MS04-024)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    SUMMARY

    A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the Windows
    Shell launches applications. An attacker could exploit the vulnerability
    if a user visited a malicious Web site. If a user is logged on with
    administrative privileges, an attacker who successfully exploited this
    vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system. However,
    user interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability.

    DETAILS

    Affected Software:
     * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Service Pack 6a -
    <http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=53F0C9C1-D72F-48E8-8F70-B29A70A618E2&displaylang=en> Download the update

     * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Service Pack 6a -
    <http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=58906E66-064C-4358-9BF9-BC67B1F57BC5&displaylang=en> Download the update

     * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 6
    -
    <http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=34035CE3-1998-4693-8330-C4515A13407D&displaylang=en> Download the update

     * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Service Pack 6a and NT Server 4.0
    Service Pack 6a with Active Desktop -
    <http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=87096271-9716-4a46-93f3-d41fcbdf989a&displaylang=en> Download the update

     * Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 2, Microsoft Windows 2000 Service
    Pack 3, Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 -
    <http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=397BE12B-A026-41A6-8E98-B4027BC6A110&displaylang=en> Download the update

     * Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 -
    <http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=C3365B8E-666B-4C82-A9ED-FC0F84F107BA&displaylang=en> Download the update

     * Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Service Pack 1 -
    <http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=3FEE07F5-9E31-481E-9F89-2549F51147AF&displaylang=en> Download the update

     * Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2003 -
    <http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=79CCA663-5B72-4345-A3EE-404B466731BC&displaylang=en> Download the update

     * Microsoft Windows Server 2003 -
    <http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=41C7BB26-3500-4492-A447-33440C404E4F&displaylang=en> Download the update

     * Microsoft Windows Server 2003 64-Bit Edition -
    <http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=79CCA663-5B72-4345-A3EE-404B466731BC&displaylang=en> Download the update

     * Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition (SE), and
    Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me) - Microsoft will only release
    security updates for critical security issues. Non-critical security
    issues are not offered during this support period. For more information
    about the Microsoft Support Lifecycle policies for these operating
    systems, visit the following
    <http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=LifeAn1> Web site.

    Security Update Replacement: This update replaces
    <http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-027.mspx>
    MS03-027 on Windows XP. This update does not replace
    <http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-027.mspx>
    MS03-027 on Windows NT 4.0, on Windows 2000, or on Windows Server 2003.

    CVE Information:
    Windows Shell Vulnerability -
    <http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2004-0420>
    CAN-2004-0420

    Mitigating Factors for Windows Shell Vulnerability:
     * In a Web-based attack scenario, an attacker would have to host a Web
    site that contains a Web page that is used to exploit this vulnerability.
    An attacker would have no way to force users to visit a malicious Web
    site. Instead, an attacker would have to persuade them to visit the Web
    site, typically by getting them to click a link that takes them to the
    attacker's site.
     * An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain
    the same privileges as the user. Users whose accounts are configured to
    have fewer privileges on the system would be at less risk than users who
    operate with administrative privileges.
     * This vulnerability requires significant user interaction to be
    exploited.
            
    Workarounds for Windows Shell Vulnerability: None

    FAQ for Windows Shell Vulnerability:
    What is the scope of the vulnerability?
    This is remote code execution vulnerability. If a user is logged on with
    administrative privileges, an attacker who successfully exploited this
    vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system, including
    installing programs; viewing, changing, or deleting data; or creating new
    accounts with full privileges. However, user interaction is required to
    exploit this vulnerability. Users whose accounts are configured to have
    fewer privileges on the system would be at less risk than users who
    operate with administrative privileges.

    What causes the vulnerability?
    The Windows
    <http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnwue/html/ch11f.asp> Shell application programming interface (API) supports the ability to associate a class identifier ( <http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/host/2000/all/proddocs/en-us/appint/asdefclassid.mspx> CLSID) with a file type. An attacker could use a CLSID instead of the valid extension for a file type that could help persuade a user to run a malicious program.

    What is Windows Shell application programming interface?
    Windows Shell APIs are the programming interfaces that support extensions
    of the system s operational environment. For more information about the
    Windows Shell application programming interface, visit the following
    <http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnwue/html/ch11f.asp> Web site.

    What might an attacker use the vulnerability to do?
    An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the
    same privileges as the user. Users whose accounts are configured to have
    fewer privileges on the system would be at less risk than users who
    operate with administrative privileges.

    How could an attacker exploit the vulnerability?
    To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would have to host a malicious
    Web site and then persuade a user to view that Web site. An attacker could
    also create an HTML e-mail message that has a specially crafted link, and
    then persuade a user to view the HTML e-mail message and then click the
    malicious link.

    What systems are primarily at risk from the vulnerability?
    Workstations and terminal servers are primarily at risk. Servers are only
    at risk if users who do not have sufficient administrative credentials are
    given the ability to log on to servers and to run programs. However, best
    practices strongly discourage allowing this.

    Are Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition or Windows Millennium Edition
    critically affected by this vulnerability?
    No. Although Windows Millennium Edition does contain the affected
    component, the vulnerability is not critical. For more information about
    severity ratings, visit the following
    <http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=21140> Web site.

    What does the update do?
    The update removes the ability to use a CLSID as a file type within
    Windows Shell.

    When this security bulletin was issued, had this vulnerability been
    publicly disclosed?
    Yes. This vulnerability has been publicly disclosed. It has been assigned
    Common Vulnerability and Exposure number
    <http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2004-0420>
    CAN-2004-0420.

    When this security bulletin was issued, had Microsoft received any reports
    that this vulnerability was being exploited?
    No. Microsoft had seen examples of proof of concept code published
    publicly but had not received any information indicating that this
    vulnerability had been publicly used to attack customers when this
    security bulletin was originally issued.

    Does applying this security update help protect customers from the code
    that has been published publicly that attempts to exploit this
    vulnerability?
    Yes. This security update addresses the vulnerability that is currently
    being exploited. The vulnerability that has been addressed has been
    assigned the Common Vulnerability and Exposure number
    <http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2004-0420>
    CAN-2004-0420.

    Are there any other steps I should take in addition to applying this patch
    to help protect my computer?
    Yes. In addition to applying this security update, it is recommended that
    users also install the ADODB.stream update that is referenced in Knowledge
    Base Article <http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=870669>
    870669. This update is available from Windows Update and from the
    Microsoft Download Center for all supported versions of Windows. While not
    a security patch, this update contains a change to the behavior of a Data
    Access component in Windows to help protect against attacks that are made
    by using Internet Explorer.
    Specifically, it disables the ability for the ADODB.stream object ability
    to function within Internet Explorer.

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    The original article can be found at:
    <http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms04-024.mspx>
    http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms04-024.mspx

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