P-093: HTML Help ActiveX Control Cross Domain Vulnerability

REVISION HISTORY:
01/14/2005 - added a link to US-CERT Vulnerability Note VU#972415.



[***** Start Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-001 (890175) *****]

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-001
Vulnerability in HTML Help Could Allow Code Execution (890175)

Issued: January 11, 2005
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 apply the update immediately.

Security Update Replacement: None

Caveats: Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 890175 documents the currently known issues that customers may 
experience when they install this security update. The article also documents recommended solutions for 
these issues.

Windows NT Server 4.0 and Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition are not affected by default. However, if 
you have installed Internet Explorer 6.0 Service Pack 1, which is the only supported version of Internet 
Explorer for Windows NT Server 4.0 and Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition, you will have the affected 
component on your system. An update is available for these configurations: see the download for Internet 
Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 under Affected Components.


Tested Software and Security Update Download Locations:

Affected Software: 

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 and Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 – Download the update
 
• Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 and Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 – Download the update
 
• Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Service Pack 1 – Download the update
 
• Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2003 – Download the update
 
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 – Download the update
 
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 64-Bit Edition – Download the update
 
• 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 NT Server 4.0 Service Pack 6a
 
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 6
 
Tested Microsoft Windows Components:

Affected Components:

• Internet Explorer 6.0 Service Pack 1 when installed on Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Service Pack 6a or 
  Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 6 – Download the update
 
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 life cycle for 
your product and version, visit the following Microsoft Support Lifecycle Web site.


 Executive Summary 

Executive Summary:

This update resolves a newly-discovered, publicly reported vulnerability. A vulnerability exists in the HTML 
Help ActiveX control in Windows that could allow information disclosure or remote code execution on an 
affected system. This 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. An attacker could then install programs; 
view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full privileges. Users whose accounts are 
configured to have fewer privileges on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with 
administrative privileges.

We recommend that customers install the update immediately.

Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers:

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.

Security Update Information

Installation Platforms and Prerequisites:

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

• Windows Server 2003 (all versions)
• Windows XP (all versions)
• Windows 2000 (all versions)
• Windows NT 4.0 (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, visit 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 (January 11, 2005): Bulletin published
 


[***** End Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-001 (890175) *****]

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