TUCoPS :: Browsers :: m-063.txt

TUCoPS :: Browsers :: m-063.txt
Microsoft Internet Explorer Vulnerabilities (CIAC M-063)

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The U.S. Department of Energy
Computer Incident Advisory Center
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INFORMATION BULLETIN

Microsoft Internet Explorer Vulnerabilities
[Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-015]

March 29, 2002 19:00 GMT Number M-063
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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.
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VULNERABILITY The risk is MEDIUM. (1) For the cookie-based script execution,
ASSESSMENT: 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.
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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
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[***** 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".

Patches 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.
_______________________________________________________________________________

CIAC, the Computer Incident Advisory Center, is the computer
security incident response team for the U.S. Department of Energy
(DOE) and the emergency backup response team for the National
Institutes of Health (NIH). CIAC is located at the Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory in Livermore, California. CIAC is also a founding
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This document was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an
agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States
Government nor the University of California nor any of their
employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any
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