O-214: Windows Vulnerability in WordPerfect Converter Could Allow Code Execution

O-214: Windows Vulnerability in WordPerfect Converter Could Allow Code Execution Privacy and Legal Notice INFORMATION BULLETIN O-214: Windows Vulnerability in WordPerfect Converter Could Allow Code Execution [Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-027] September 14, 2004 22:00 GMT
[REVISED 23 Sep 2004]


PROBLEM:	A vulnerability in the Microsoft WordPerfect converter included with most Microsoft Office products could allow code execution by a remote intruder with the privileges of the logged in user. If the user is logged in as administrator, the intruder can get root privileges.
PLATFORM:	Office 2000 SP 3 Office XP SP 3 Office XP SP 2 Office 2003 Works 2001, Works 2002, Works 2003, Works 2004 Note that Office 2003 SP 1 is not affected.
DAMAGE:	If a user opens a specially crafted WordPerfect document with a Microsoft Office product the vulnerability is triggered and the remote intruder can perform any operation the logged in user is allowed to do. If the user is logged in as administrator, the remote intruder can get root privileges on the system.
SOLUTION:	Apply the patches indicated in the bulletin. You can use the Microsoft security Baseline Analyzer or the System Management Server to determine which products need to be upgraded.

VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT:	The risk is MEDIUM, or HIGH, if you routinely open WordPerfect documents with Windows Office products. Most user's do not routinely open WordPerfect documents with Windows Office products so the risk is medium because you might accidently do so. If you routinely open WordPerfect documents with Windows Office products the risk is high.

LINKS:
CIAC BULLETIN:	http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/o-214.shtml
ORIGINAL BULLETIN:	http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms04-027.mspx
CVE/CAN:	http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2004-0573

REVISION HISTORY:
09/23/04 - Microsoft added Office XP Service Pack 2 to their list of affected
products.

[***** Start Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-027 *****]

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-027

Vulnerability in WordPerfect Converter Could Allow Code Execution (884933)

Issued: September 14, 2004
Updated: September 21, 2004
Version: 1.2

Summary

Who should read this document: Customers who use Microsoft Office, Microsoft FrontPage,
Microsoft Publisher, or Microsoft Works Suite.

Impact of Vulnerability: Remote Code Execution

Maximum Severity Rating: Important

Recommendation: Customers should install the update at the earliest opportunity.

Security Update Replacement: This update replaces the security update that was provided
as part of Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-036.

Caveats: None

Tested Software and Security Update Download Locations:

Affected Software:

• Microsoft Office 2000 Software Service Pack 3 - Download the update

Microsoft Office 2000 Service Pack 3 Software:

• Word 2000

• FrontPage 2000

• Publisher 2000

• Microsoft Office XP Software Service Pack 3 - Download the update

• Microsoft Office XP Software Service Pack 2 - Download the administrative update
(KB873379)

Microsoft Office XP Service Software:

• Word 2002

• FrontPage 2002

• Publisher 2002

• Microsoft Office 2003 - Download the update

Microsoft Office 2003 Software:

• Word 2003

• FrontPage 2003

• Publisher 2003

• Microsoft Works Suites:

• Microsoft Works Suite 2001 - Download the update (same as Microsoft Office 2000 link)

• Microsoft Works Suite 2002 - Download the update (same as the Microsoft Office XP link)

• Microsoft Works Suite 2003 - Download the update (same as the Microsoft Office XP link)

• Microsoft Works Suite 2004 - Download the update (same as the Microsoft Office XP link)

Note Office XP Service Pack 2 and Office XP Service Pack 3 are both
vulnerable to this issue. However the security update for Office XP
Service Pack 2 is only provided as part of the Office XP administrative
security update. For more information, see the Security Update
Information section. Office 2003 Service Pack 1 contains an updated
version of the affected component and is not affected. Customers that
have installed this service pack do not need to install the available
security updates for this software.

Non Affected Software:

• Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 1

Tested Microsoft Office Components:

• Microsoft WordPerfect 5.x Converter

Affected Components:

• Microsoft WordPerfect 5.x Converter

The software in this list has been tested to determine if the versions are affected.
Other versions either no longer include security update support or may not be affected.
To determine the support lifecycle for your product and version, visit the following
Microsoft Support Lifecycle Web site.

General Information

Executive Summary:

This update resolves a newly discovered, privately reported vulnerability. A remote code
execution vulnerability exists in the WordPerfect 5.x Converter that is provided as part
of the affected software. The vulnerability is documented in the Vulnerability Details
section of this bulletin.

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. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer privileges
on the system would be at less risk than users who operate with administrative
privileges. However, user interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability.

Microsoft recommends that customers install the update at the earliest opportunity.

Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers:

Vulnerability Identifiers - WordPerfect 5.x Converter Vulnerability - CAN-2004-0573
Impact of Vulnerability - Remote Code Execution
All Software Listed in the Affected Software Section - Important

This assessment is based on the types of systems that are affected by the vulnerability,
their typical deployment patterns, and the effect that exploiting the vulnerability
would have on them.

Acknowledgments

Microsoft thanks the following for working with us to help protect customers:

• Peter Winter-Smith of Next Generation Security Software Ltd. for reporting the
WordPerfect 5.x Converter Vulnerability (CAN-2004-0573).

Obtaining Other Security Updates:

Updates for other security issues are available from the following locations:

• Security updates are available from the Microsoft Download Center: You can
find them most easily by doing a keyword search for "security_patch".

• Updates for consumer platforms are available from the Windows Update Web site.

Support:

• Customers in the U.S. and Canada can receive technical support from Microsoft
Product Support Services at 1-866-PCSAFETY. There is no charge for support
calls that are associated with security updates.

• International customers can receive support from their local Microsoft
subsidiaries. There is no charge for support that is associated with security
updates. For more information about how to contact Microsoft for support issues,
visit the International Support Web site.

Security Resources:

• The Microsoft TechNet Security Web site provides additional information about
security in Microsoft products.

• Microsoft Software Update Services

• Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA)

• Windows Update

• Windows Update Catalog: For more information about the Windows Update Catalog,
see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 323166.

• Office Update

Software Update Services:

By using Microsoft Software Update Services (SUS), administrators can quickly and
reliably deploy the latest critical updates and security updates to Windows 2000
and Windows Server 2003-based servers, and to desktop systems that are running
Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP Professional.

For more information about how to deploy this security update with Software Update
Services, visit the Software Update Services Web site.

Systems Management Server:

Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) delivers a highly-configurable enterprise
solution for managing updates. By using SMS, administrators can identify
Windows-based systems that require security updates and to perform controlled
deployment of these updates throughout the enterprise with minimal disruption
to end users. For more information about how administrators can use SMS 2003
to deploy security updates, see the SMS 2003 Security Patch Management Web
site. SMS 2.0 users can also use Software Updates Service Feature Pack to help
deploy security updates. For information about SMS, visit the SMS Web site.

Note SMS uses the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer and the Microsoft Office
Detection Tool to provide broad support for security bulletin update detection
and deployment. Some software updates may not be detected by these tools.
Administrators can use the inventory capabilities of the SMS in these cases
to target updates to specific systems. For more information about this
procedure, see the following Web site. Some security updates require
administrative rights following a restart of the system. Administrators
can use the Elevated Rights Deployment Tool (available in the
SMS 2003 Administration Feature Pack and in the SMS 2.0 Administration Feature Pack)
to install these updates.

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
articular 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 (September 14, 2004): Bulletin published

• V1.1 (September 15, 2004): Affected Software Section updated. Office XP
Service Pack 2 is affected and this has been clarified.

• V1.2 (September 21, 2004): Added clarification around MBSA detection of
this security update.

[***** End Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-027 *****]

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

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