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The U.S. Department of Energy
Computer Incident Advisory Capability
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INFORMATION BULLETIN
Microsoft Internet Explorer Cumulative Patch
[Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-040]
October 6, 2003 14:00 GMT Number O-002
______________________________________________________________________________
PROBLEM: There are two new vulnerabilities in IE:
1) A vulnerability occurs because Internet Explorer does not
properly determine an object type returned from a Web server in
a popup window.
2) A vulnerability occurs because Internet Explorer does not
properly determine an object type returned from a Web server
during XML data binding.
SOFTWARE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01, 5.5, 6.0, 6.0 for Windows
Server 2003
DAMAGE: It could be possible for an attacker who exploited this
vulnerability to run arbitrary code on a user's system.
SOLUTION: Apply patch immediately. (NOTE--This patch supersedes the one
provided in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-032 which is
itself a cumulative patch.)
______________________________________________________________________________
VULNERABILITY The risk is HIGH. There are rumors that exploits are already in
ASSESSMENT: the wild. It is possible for an attacker to run arbitrary code.
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LINKS:
CIAC BULLETIN: http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/o-002.shtml
ORIGINAL BULLETIN: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=
/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-040.asp
CVE: http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=
CVE-2003-0838 CVE-2003-0809
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[***** Start Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-040 *****]
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-040
Cumulative Patch for Internet Explorer (828750)
Originally posted: October 3, 2003
Summary
Who should read this bulletin: Users running Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Impact of vulnerability: Run code of attacker’s choice.
Maximum Severity Rating: Critical
Recommendation: Customers should apply the patch immediately.
End User Bulletin:
An end user version of this bulletin is available at:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/security_bulletins/ms03-040.asp
Protect your PC:
Additional information on how you can help protect your PC is available at the
following locations:
End Users can visit http://www.microsoft.com/protect
IT Professionals can visit http://www.microsoft.com/technet/protect
Affected Software:
Internet Explorer 5.01
Internet Explorer 5.5
Internet Explorer 6.0
Internet Explorer 6.0 for Windows Server 2003
Technical details
Technical description:
This is a cumulative patch that includes the functionality of all previously
released patches for Internet Explorer 5.01, 5.5 and 6.0. In addition, it
eliminates the following newly discovered vulnerabilities:
* A vulnerability that occurs because Internet Explorer does not properly determine
an object type returned from a Web server in a popup window. It could be possible
for an attacker who exploited this vulnerability to run arbitrary code on a user's
system. If a user visited an attacker's Web site, it could be possible for the
attacker to exploit this vulnerability without any other user action. An attacker
could also craft an HTML–based e-mail that would attempt to exploit this vulnerability.
* A vulnerability that occurs because Internet Explorer does not properly determine an
object type returned from a Web server during XML data binding. It could be possible
for an attacker who exploited this vulnerability to run arbitrary code on a user's
system. If a user visited an attacker's Web site, it could be possible for the attacker
to exploit this vulnerability without any other user action. An attacker could also
craft an HTML–based e-mail that would attempt to exploit this vulnerability.
In addition, a change has been made to the method by which Internet Explorer handles
Dynamic HTML (DHTML) Behaviors in the Internet Explorer Restricted Zone. It could be
possible for an attacker exploiting a separate vulnerability (such as one of the two
vulnerabilities discussed above) to cause Internet Explorer to run script code in the
security context of the Internet Zone. In addition, an attacker could use Windows Media
Player’s (WMP) ability to open URLs to construct an attack. An attacker could also craft
an HTML-based e-mail that could attempt to exploit this behavior.
To exploit these flaws, the attacker would have to create a specially formed HTML–based
e-mail and send it to the user. Alternatively an attacker would have to host a malicious
Web site that contained a Web page designed to exploit these vulnerabilities.
As with the previous Internet Explorer cumulative patches released with bulletins MS03-004,
MS03-015, MS03-020, and MS03-032, this cumulative patch will cause window.showHelp( ) to
cease to function if you have not applied the HTML Help update. If you have installed the
updated HTML Help control from Knowledge Base article 811630, you will still be able to use
HTML Help functionality after applying this patch.
In addition to applying this security patch it is recommended that users also install the
Windows Media Player update referenced in Knowledge Base Article 828026. This update is
available from Windows Update as well as the Microsoft Download Center for all supported
versions of Windows Media Player. While not a security patch, this update contains a change
to the behavior of Windows Media Player’s ability to launch URLs to help protect against
DHTML behavior based attacks. Specifically, it restricts Windows Media Player’s ability to
launch URLs in the local computer zone from other zones.
Mitigating factors:
* By default, Internet Explorer on Windows Server 2003 runs in Enhanced Security
Configuration. This default configuration of Internet Explorer blocks automatic
exploitation of this attack. If Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration has been
disabled, the protections put in place that prevent this vulnerability from being
automatically exploited would be removed.
* In the Web-based attack scenario, the attacker would have to host a Web site that
contained a Web page used to exploit this vulnerability.
* Exploiting the vulnerability would allow the attacker only the same privileges as the user.
Users whose accounts are configured to have user level privileges on the system would be at
less risk than ones who operate with administrative privileges.
Severity Rating:
Internet
Internet Internet Internet Internet Internet Explorer 6.0 for
Explorer Explorer Explorer Explorer Explorer Windows
5.01 SP3 5.01 SP4 5.5 SP2 6.0 Gold 6.0 SP1 Server 2003 Windows
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Object Tag
vulnerability in Critical Critical Critical Critical Critical Moderate
Popup Window
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Object Tag
vulnerability with Critical Critical Critical Critical Critical Moderate
XML data binding
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Aggregate Severity
of all issues
included in this Critical Critical Critical Critical Critical Moderate
patch
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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.
Vulnerability identifier:
* Object Tag vulnerability in Popup Window: CAN-2003-0838
* Object Tag vulnerability with XML data binding: CAN-2003-0809
Tested Versions:
Microsoft tested Internet Explorer versions 5.01 Service Pack 3, Internet Explorer 5.01 Service
Pack 4, Internet Explorer 5.5 Service pack 2, Internet Explorer 6.0 and Internet Explorer 6.0
Service Pack 1 to assess whether they are affected by these vulnerabilities. Previous versions
are no longer supported, and may or may not be affected by these vulnerabilities.
Additional information about this patch
Installation platforms:
The patch can be installed on:
* Internet Explorer 5.01 running on Windows 2000 systems with Service Pack 3 or Service Pack 4
installed.
* The Internet Explorer 5.5 patch can be installed on systems running Internet Explorer 5.5
Service Pack 2.
* The Internet Explorer 6.0 patch can be installed on systems running IE 6.0 Gold or Internet
Explorer 6.0 Service Pack 1.
Inclusion in future service packs:
The fix for these issues will be included in Windows 2000 Service Pack 5, Windows XP Service
Pack 2 and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1.
Reboot needed: Yes - After reboot, an administrator logon is required for:
* Internet Explorer 5.01 on Microsoft Windows 2000 and Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
* Internet Explorer 5.5 on Microsoft Windows 2000
Patch can be uninstalled: Yes.
Superseded patches: This patch supersedes the one provided in Microsoft Security Bulletin
MS03-032 which is itself a cumulative patch.
Verifying patch installation:
* To verify that the patch has been installed on the machine, open Internet Explorer, select
Help, then select About Internet Explorer and confirm that Q828750 is listed in the Update
Versions field.
Note that you can not use this method on Windows Server 2003 or Windows XP 64-Bit Edition
Version 2003, as the Update Versions field is not updated by the package for these operating
systems.
* To verify the individual files, use the patch manifest provided in Knowledge Base article
828750.
Caveats:
If you have not installed the updated HTML Help control from Knowledge Base article 811630,
you will not be able to use some HTML Help functionality after applying this update. In order
to restore that functionality, users need to download the updated HTML Help control (811630).
Users should also note that when the latest version of HTML Help is installed, the following
limitations will occur when a help file is opened with the showHelp method:
* Only supported protocols can be used with showHelp to open a web page or help (.chm) file.
* The shortcut function supported by HTML Help will be disabled when the help file is opened
with showHelp This will not affect the shortcut functionality if the same CHM file is opened
by the user manually by double-clicking on the help file, or by through an application on the
local system using the HTMLHELP( ) API.
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
Other information:
Support:
* Microsoft Knowledge Base article 828750 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 (October 3, 2003): Bulletin Created.
[***** End Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-040 *****]
_______________________________________________________________________________
CIAC wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Microsoft for the
information contained in this bulletin.
_______________________________________________________________________________
CIAC, the Computer Incident Advisory Capability, 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
member of FIRST, the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams, a
global organization established to foster cooperation and coordination
among computer security teams worldwide.
CIAC services are available to DOE, DOE contractors, and the NIH. CIAC
can be contacted at:
Voice: +1 925-422-8193 (7x24)
FAX: +1 925-423-8002
STU-III: +1 925-423-2604
E-mail: ciac@ciac.org
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available from the CIAC Computer Security Archive.
World Wide Web: http://www.ciac.org/
Anonymous FTP: ftp.ciac.org
PLEASE NOTE: Many users outside of the DOE, ESnet, and NIH computing
communities receive CIAC bulletins. If you are not part of these
communities, please contact your agency's response team to report
incidents. Your agency's team will coordinate with CIAC. The Forum of
Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST) is a world-wide
organization. A list of FIRST member organizations and their
constituencies can be obtained via WWW at http://www.first.org/.
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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