P-046: Microsoft Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (889293)

[***** Start Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-040 *****]

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-040
Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (889293)

Issued: December 1, 2004
Version: 1.0

Summary
Who should read this document: Customers who use Microsoft Windows

Impact of Vulnerability: Remote Code Execution

Maximum Severity Rating: Critical

Recommendation: Customers should install the update immediately.

Security Update Replacement: This update replaces the update that is included with Microsoft Security 
Bulletin MS04-038. That update is also a cumulative update.

Caveats: Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 889293 documents the currently known issues 
that customers may experience when they install this security update. The article also documents recommended 
solutions for these issues.

Important: This update may not include hotfixes that have been released since the release of MS04-004 
or MS04-038. Customers who have received hotfixes from Microsoft or from their support providers since the 
release of MS04-004 or MS04-038 should not install this update. Instead customers should deploy update 889669.

This update contains several functionality and security changes which are documented in the FAQ section for 
this update.

Tested Software and Security Update Download Locations:

Affected Software: 

• Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Service Pack 6a
 
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 6
 
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 and Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
 
• Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1
 
• Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Service Pack 1
 
• Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition (SE), and Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition 
  (Me) – Review the FAQ section of this bulletin for details about these operating systems.
 

Non-Affected Software: 

• Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
 
• Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2003
 
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003
 
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 64-Bit Edition
 

Affected Components:

• Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 on Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 3, on Microsoft Windows 2000 
  Service Pack 4, or on Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1: Download the update
 
• Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 on Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Service Pack 6a, on Microsoft 
  Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Service Edition Service Pack 6, on Microsoft Windows 98, on Microsoft 
  Windows 98 SE, or on Microsoft Windows Me: Download the update
 
• Internet Explorer 6 for Windows XP Service Pack 1 (64-Bit Edition): Download the update
 

Non-Affected Components:

• Internet Explorer 5.01 Service Pack 3 on Windows 2000 SP3
 
• Internet Explorer 5.01 Service Pack 4 on Windows 2000 SP4
 
• Internet Explorer 5.5 Service Pack 2 on Microsoft Windows Me
 
• Internet Explorer 6 for Windows Server 2003
 
• Internet Explorer 6 for Windows Server 2003 64-Bit Edition and Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2003
 
• Internet Explorer 6 for Windows XP Service Pack 2
 

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 Microsoft Support Lifecycle Web site.

General Information
 Executive Summary 

Executive Summary:

This update resolves a newly-discovered publicly reported vulnerability. A vulnerability exists in Internet 
Explorer that could allow remote code execution on an affected system. 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.

Microsoft recommends that customers install the update immediately.


Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers:
Vulnerability Identifiers           Impact of Vulnerability         Internet Explorer 6 SP1 
                                                                    (All versions earlier than Windows 
																	Server 2003)
HTML Elements Vulnerability -       Remote Code Execution           Critical
CAN-2004-1050

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.


Vulnerability Details 
	
HTML Elements Vulnerability - CAN-2004-1050: 

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Internet Explorer that could allow remote code execution on 
an affected system. An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by constructing a malicious Web Page that 
could potentially allow remote code execution if a user visited a malicious Web site. An attacker who 
successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system.


 Security Update Information 

Installation Platforms and Prerequisites:

For additional information about how to determine which version of Internet Explorer you are running, see 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 164539.

For information about the specific security update for your system, click the appropriate link:

 *  Internet Explorer 6 SP1 for Windows XP Service Pack 1 and Windows 2000 (all versions) 
 *  Internet Explorer 6 SP1 for Windows NT Server 4.0 Service Pack 6a (all versions), 
    Windows Millennium Edition (Me), and Windows 98 (all versions)

	
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 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 (December 1, 2004): Bulletin published
 



[***** End Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-040 *****]

    Voice:          +1 866-941-2472 (7 x 24)
    E-mail:          doecirc@doecirc.energy.gov
    World Wide Web:  http://www.doecirc.energy.gov/