M-063: Microsoft Internet Explorer Vulnerabilities

M-063: Microsoft Internet Explorer Vulnerabilities Privacy and Legal Notice INFORMATION BULLETIN M-063: Microsoft Internet Explorer Vulnerabilities [Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-015] March 29, 2002 19:00 GMT


PROBLEM:	Two vulnerabilities have been identified in Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE). The first vulnerability allows cookie-based script execution and the second vulnerability allows local executable invocation via object tags.
PLATFORM:	Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
DAMAGE:	(1) An attacker could place a script in a cookie that would be saved to the user's hard disk. When the cookie was opened by the site the script would then run in the Local Computer zone. (2) A vulnerability in the handling of object tags may allow an attacker to invoke an executable already present on the user's machine.
SOLUTION:	Apply the patch provided by vendor.

VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT:	The risk is MEDIUM. (1) For the cookie-based script execution, the script would run with the same rights as the user. (2) For local executable invocation via object tags, an attacker could only execute a file on the victim's local machine.

LINKS:
CIAC BULLETIN:	http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/m-063.shtml
ORIGINAL BULLETIN:	http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-015.asp

[***** Start Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-015 *****]

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-015 


28 March 2002 Cumulative Patch for Internet Explorer
Originally posted: March 28, 2002

Summary
Who should read this bulletin: Customers using Microsoft® Internet Explorer 

Impact of vulnerability: Two vulnerabilities, the most serious of which 
would allow script to run in the Local Computer Zone. 

Maximum Severity Rating: Critical 

Recommendation: Consumers using the affected version of IE should install 
the patch immediately. 

Affected Software: 

Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 

Technical details

Technical description: 


This is a cumulative patch that includes the functionality of all 
previously released patches for IE 5.01, 5.5 and IE 6. In addition, 
it eliminates the following two newly discovered vulnerabilities: 

A vulnerability in the zone determination function that could allow a 
script embedded in a cookie to be run in the Local Computer zone. While 
HTML scripts can be stored in cookies, they should be handled in the 
same zone as the hosting site associated with them, in most cases the 
Internet zone. An attacker could place script in a cookie that would be 
saved to the user’s hard disk. When the cookie was opened by the site the 
script would then run in the Local Computer zone, allowing it to run 
with fewer restrictions than it would otherwise have. 

A vulnerability in the handling of object tags that could allow an attacker 
to invoke an executable already present on the user’s machine. A malicious user 
could create HTML web page that includes this object tag and cause a local 
program to run on the victim’s machine. 

Mitigating factors: 

Cookie-based Script Execution: 

The script would run with the same rights as the user. The specific 
privileges the attacker could gain through this vulnerability would 
therefore depend on the privileges accorded to the user. Any limitations 
on a user's account, such as those applied through Group Policies, would 
also limit the actions of any script executed by this vulnerability. 

Local Executable Invocation via Object tag:

The vulnerability would not enable the attacker to pass any parameters 
to the program. Microsoft is not aware of any programs installed by 
default in any version of Windows that, when called with no parameters, 
could be used to compromise the system. 

An attacker could only execute a file on the victim’s local machine. The 
vulnerability could not be used to execute a program on a remote share 
or web site. 

The vulnerability would not provide any way for an attacker to put a 
program of his choice onto another user’s system. 

An attacker would need to know the name and location of any executable 
on the system to successfully invoke it. 

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. As a result, customers using these products would not be at 
risk from email-borne attacks. 

Severity Rating: 

Cookie-based Script Execution:  
                        Internet Servers  Intranet Servers  Client Systems 
Internet Explorer 5.01  None              None              None 
Internet Explorer 5.5   Moderate          Moderate          Critical 
Internet Explorer 6.0   Moderate          Moderate          Critical 

Local Executable Invocation via Object tag:  
                        Internet Servers  Intranet Servers  Client Systems 
Internet Explorer 5.01  Moderate          Moderate          Moderate 
Internet Explorer 5.5   Moderate          Moderate          Moderate 
Internet Explorer 6.0   Moderate          Moderate          Moderate 

Aggregate severity of all vulnerabilities eliminated by patch:  
                        Internet Servers  Intranet Servers  Client Systems 
Internet Explorer 5.01  Critical          Critical          Critical 
Internet Explorer 5.5   Critical          Critical          Critical 
Internet Explorer 6.0   Critical          Critical          Critical 

The above assessment is based on the types of systems affected by the 
vulnerability, their typical deployment patterns, and the effect that 
exploiting the vulnerability would have on them. The Cookie-based script 
execution vulnerability cannot be exploited by email. The Local Executable 
Invocation vulnerability cannot pass parameters to the invoked executable. 
The aggregate severity includes the severity of vulnerabilities announced 
in previously released security bulletins. 

Vulnerability identifier: 

Cookie-based Script Execution: CAN-2002-0078 
Local Executable Invocation via Object tag: CAN-2002-0077 

Tested Versions:
The following table indicates which of the currently supported versions 
of Internet Explorer are affected by the vulnerabilities. Versions of 
IE prior to 5.01 Service Pack 2 are no longer eligible for hotfix support. 
IE 5.01 SP2 is supported only via Windows® 2000 Service Packs and Security 
Roll-up Packages and on Windows NT® 4.0. 
                               IE 5.01 SP2  IE 5.5 SP1  IE 5.5 SP2  IE 6.0 
Cookie-based Script Execution  No           Yes         Yes         Yes 
Local Executable Invocation 
via Object tag                 Yes          Yes         Yes         Yes 
 
Patch availability

Download locations for this patch: 
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/critical/Q319182/default.asp 

Additional information about this patch
Installation platforms: 

The IE 5.01 patch can be applied to Windows 2000 Systems with Service Pack 2 
or Windows NT 4.0 systems with Service Pack 6a. 
The IE 5.5 patch can be installed on systems running IE 5.5 Service Pack 1 
or Service Pack 2. 
The IE 6.0 patch can be installed on system running IE 6.0 Gold.
 

Inclusion in future service packs: 

The fixes for these issues will be included in IE 6.0 Service Pack 1. 
The fixes for the issues affecting IE 5.01 Service Pack 2 will be included 
in Windows 2000 Service Pack 3.
 

Reboot needed:
Yes 

Superseded patches:

This patch supersedes the one provided in Microsoft Security Bulletin 
MS02-005, which is itself a cumulative patch. 

Verifying patch installation: 

To verify that the patch has been installed on the machine, open IE, 
select Help, then select About Internet Explorer and confirm that 
Q319182 is listed in the Update Versions field. 
To verify the individual files, use the patch manifest provided in Knowledge 
Base article Q319182.
   

Caveats:
None 

Localization:
Localized versions of this patch are available at the locations discussed in 
"Patch Availability" 

Obtaining other security patches: 
Patches for other security issues are available from the following locations: 

Security patches are available from the Microsoft Download Center, and can be 
most easily found by doing a keyword search for "security_patch". 
atches for consumer platforms are available from the WindowsUpdate web site. 
All patches available via WindowsUpdate also are available in a redistributable 
form from the WindowsUpdate Corporate site. 

Other information: 
Acknowledgments
Microsoft thanks Andreas Sandblad, Sweden for reporting the Cookie-based 
Script Execution issue to us and working with us to protect customers. 

Support: 

Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q319182 discusses this issue and will be 
available approximately 24 hours after the release of this bulletin. 
Knowledge Base articles can be found on the Microsoft Online Support web 
site. 
Technical support is available from Microsoft Product Support Services. 
There is no charge for support calls associated with security patches. 

Security Resources: The Microsoft TechNet Security Web Site provides 
additional information about security in Microsoft products. 

Disclaimer: 
The information provided in the Microsoft Knowledge Base is provided 
"as is" without warranty of any kind. Microsoft disclaims all warranties, 
either express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability 
and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event shall Microsoft 
Corporation or its suppliers be liable for any damages whatsoever 
including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, loss of business 
profits or special damages, even if Microsoft Corporation or its suppliers 
have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Some states do not 
allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or 
incidental damages so the foregoing limitation may not apply. 

Revisions: 

V1.0 (March 28, 2002): Bulletin Created. 

[***** End Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-015 *****]

CIAC wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Microsoft Corporation for the information contained in this bulletin.

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