[Am-info] Buffer Overflow in Microsoft Windows Shell
Fred A. Miller
fm@cupserv.org
Fri, 20 Dec 2002 10:23:54 -0500
I wouldn't have posted this one, except that the flawed code is IN the
XP shell, of all places, and it's a NASTY one! This one must have been
discovered before now, as MickySoft already has a patch for it.
Fred
_______________
CERT Advisory CA-2002-37 Buffer Overflow in Microsoft Windows Shell
Original release date: December 19, 2002
Last revised: --
Source: CERT/CC
A complete revision history can be found at the end of this file.
Systems Affected
* All versions of Microsoft Windows XP
Overview
A buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the Microsoft Windows Shell.
An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by enticing a victim to
read a malicious email message, visit a malicious web page, or browse
to a folder containing a malicious .MP3 or .WMA file. The attacker can
then execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the victim.
I. Description
The Microsoft Windows Shell provides the basic human-computer
interface for Windows systems. Browsing local and remote folders,
running wizards, and performing configuration tasks are examples of
operations utilizing the Windows Shell. Microsoft describes the
Windows Shell as follows:
The Windows Shell is responsible for providing the basic framework
of the Windows user interface experience. It is most familiar to
users as the Windows Desktop, but also provides a variety of other
functions to help define the user's computing session, including
organizing files and folders, and providing the means to start
applications.
A vulnerability exists in the Windows Shell function used to extract
attribute information from audio files. This function is invoked
automatically when a user browses to a folder containing .MP3 or .WMA
files. Further information about this vulnerability can be found in
the following documents:
Foundstone Research Labs Advisory FS2002-11
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-072
CERT/CC Vulnerability Note VU#591890
A CVE candidate (CAN-2002-1327) has been assigned as well.
II. Impact
An attacker can either execute arbitrary code (which would run with
the privileges of the victim) or crash the Windows Shell.
III. Solution
Apply a patch from your vendor
Appendix A contains information provided by vendors for this advisory.
As vendors report new information to the CERT/CC, we will update this
section and note the changes in our revision history. If a particular
vendor is not listed below, we have not received their comments.
Please contact your vendor directly.
Note that Microsoft is actively deploying the patch for this
vulnerability via
Windows Update.
Appendix A. - Vendor Information
Microsoft Corporation
Please see
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/?url=/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-072.asp.
Appendix B. - References
1. Foundstone Research Labs Advisory FS2002-11 -
http://www.foundstone.com/knowledge/randd-advisories-display.html?id=339
2. Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-072 -
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/?url=/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-072.asp
3. CERT/CC Vulnerability Note VU#591890 -
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/591890
4. CVE CAN-2002-1327 -
http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2002-1327
_________________________________________________________________
Foundstone Research Labs discovered this vulnerability.
_________________________________________________________________
Author: Ian A. Finlay.
______________________________________________________________________
This document is available from:
http://www.cert.org/advisories/CA-2002-37.html
______________________________________________________________________
CERT/CC Contact Information
Email: cert@cert.org
Phone: +1 412-268-7090 (24-hour hotline)
Fax: +1 412-268-6989
Postal address:
CERT Coordination Center
Software Engineering Institute
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh PA 15213-3890
U.S.A.
CERT/CC personnel answer the hotline 08:00-17:00 EST(GMT-5) /
EDT(GMT-4) Monday through Friday; they are on call for emergencies
during other hours, on U.S. holidays, and on weekends.
Using encryption
We strongly urge you to encrypt sensitive information sent by email.
Our public PGP key is available from
http://www.cert.org/CERT_PGP.key
If you prefer to use DES, please call the CERT hotline for more
information.
Getting security information
CERT publications and other security information are available from
our web site
http://www.cert.org/
To subscribe to the CERT mailing list for advisories and bulletins,
send email to majordomo@cert.org. Please include in the body of your
message
subscribe cert-advisory
* "CERT" and "CERT Coordination Center" are registered in the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office.
______________________________________________________________________
NO WARRANTY
Any material furnished by Carnegie Mellon University and the Software
Engineering Institute is furnished on an "as is" basis. Carnegie
Mellon University makes no warranties of any kind, either expressed or
implied as to any matter including, but not limited to, warranty of
fitness for a particular purpose or merchantability, exclusivity or
results obtained from use of the material. Carnegie Mellon University
does not make any warranty of any kind with respect to freedom from
patent, trademark, or copyright infringement.
_________________________________________________________________
Conditions for use, disclaimers, and sponsorship information
Copyright 2002 Carnegie Mellon University.
Revision History
December 19, 2002: Initial release
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: PGP 6.5.8
iQCVAwUBPgIYTmjtSoHZUTs5AQEgFwQArxDsC+CdyrvADBbR8mEMcxxZKs1Luc2M
yORbNtIwPHIvlX+gKMcoftKyO20Dq1MlqxTyAjnXnxbHJKK3bYKcIDZN7x0n5Yx4
VazcyftxU5uRuBe+XIi8v9IimFTfZ2S+XvezRvNjF0usL36dX15LjHff32bp+aC3
DpU8ee4z7g0=
=4hoh
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
--
Fred A. Miller
Systems Administrator
Cornell Univ. Press Services
fm@cupserv.org, www.cupserv.org