TUCoPS :: Windows Apps :: n-035.txt

Microsoft V1 Exchange Server Security (CIAC N-035)

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

        Microsoft V1 Exchange Server Security Certificates Vulnerability
                     [Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-003]

January 23, 2003 20:00 GMT                                        Number N-035
______________________________________________________________________________
PROBLEM:       A V1 Exchange Server Security certificate is one of the
               encryption certificate options that is available when Outlook
               2002 is used in conjunction with a Microsoft Exchange mail
               server. There is a flaw in the way Outlook 2002 handles a V1
               Exchange Server Security certificate.
AFFECTED       Microsoft Content Management Server 2001/Exchange using V1
SOFTWARE:      Exchange Server Security Certificates
DAMAGE:        As a result of this flaw, Outlook fails to encrypt the mail
               correctly and the message will be sent in plain text. This
               could cause the information in the e-mail to be exposed when
               the user believed it to be protected through encryption.
SOLUTION:      Apply available patch.
______________________________________________________________________________
VULNERABILITY  The risk is LOW. The Exchange mail server's default certificate
ASSESSMENT:    type is an S/MIME certificate - not a V1 Exchange Server
               Security certificate. This vulnerability only affects Outlook
               2002 and only when sending HTML e-mail.
______________________________________________________________________________
LINKS:
 CIAC BULLETIN:      http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/n-035.shtml
 ORIGINAL BULLETIN:
                     http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=
                       /technet/security/bulletin/MS03-003.asp
______________________________________________________________________________
[***** Start Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-003 *****]

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-003    


Flaw in how Outlook 2002 handles V1 Exchange Server Security Certificates 
could lead to Information Disclosure (812262)

Originally posted: January 22, 2003

Summary
Who should read this bulletin: Administrators of Microsoft Outlook 2002 
systems using V1 Exchange Server Security certificates for encryption. 

Impact of vulnerability: Information Disclosure 

Maximum Severity Rating: Moderate 

Recommendation: Administrators of Microsoft Outlook 2002 systems using 
V1 Exchange Server Security certificates for encryption should apply 
the patch immediately. 

Affected Software: 

Microsoft Outlook 2002 
End User Bulletin: An end user version of this bulletin is available at: 
http://www.microsoft.com/security/security_bulletins/ms03-003.asp. 


 Technical details
Technical description: 


Microsoft Outlook 2002 provides the facility to encrypt e-mails sent between 
e-mail recipients. Encryption is used to prevent parties other than the 
intended recipients from reading the contents of an e-mail. Outlook uses 
public key certificates to facilitate the exchange of the cryptographic 
keys that are used in the encryption process, and Outlook offers a number 
of different options as to what type of certificates can be used. S/MIME 
certificates are the most commonly used (and are not affected by the 
vulnerability that is the subject of this bulletin), but there are other 
certificate options including V1 Exchange Server Security certificates. 

A vulnerability exists because there is a flaw in the way Outlook 2002 
handles a V1 Exchange Server Security certificate when using it to encrypt 
e-mail. As a result of this flaw, Outlook fails to encrypt the mail 
correctly and the message will be sent in plain text. This could cause 
the information in the e-mail to be exposed when the user believed it 
to be protected through encryption. 

Mitigating factors: 

This vulnerability only affects encryption when a V1 Exchange Server 
Security certificate is used. S/MIME encryption, which is the most 
widely used form of e-mail encryption used by Outlook, is not affected. 

This vulnerability only affects Outlook 2002 and only when sending HTML e-mail. 

Severity Rating: Outlook 2002              Moderate 
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: CAN-2003-0007 

Tested Versions:
Microsoft tested Outlook 98, Outlook 2000 and Outlook 2002 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.


Patch availability
Download locations for this patch 
Microsoft Outlook 2002:
http://microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?
   FamilyId=F20A2E4B-E458-48F0-B0CB-7E73C0BB4884&displaylang=en 
   
http://www.microsoft.com/office/ork/xp/journ/olk1006a.htm (administrative update only) 

Note: This and other Office updates can be obtained at 
http://office.microsoft.com/productupdates. 


 Additional information about this patch
Installation platforms: 
This patch can be installed on systems running Outlook 2002 with Office XP 
Service Pack 2. (The administrative update can be installed on systems 
running Office XP Service Pack 1 as well). 

Inclusion in future service packs:
The fix for this issue will be included in any future service packs for Office XP. 

Reboot needed: No 

Patch can be uninstalled: No 

Superseded patches: None. 

Verifying patch installation: 

Start Microsoft Outlook, and then click About Microsoft Outlook on the Help menu. 
The product version is 10.4712.4219 if the patch is installed. 
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 

Other information: 

Support: 

Microsoft Knowledge Base article 812262 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 January 22, 2003: Bulletin Created. 


[***** End Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-003 *****]
_______________________________________________________________________________

CIAC wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Microsoft Corportaion 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.

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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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