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Microsoft HyperTerminal Buffer Overflow
Microsoft HyperTerminal Buffer Overflow Privacy and Legal Notice

CIAC INFORMATION BULLETIN

L-008: Microsoft HyperTerminal Buffer Overflow

October 19, 2000 16:00 GMT
PROBLEM:       Microsoft has identified a vulnerability in the HyperTerminal
               application that is installed, by default, on several Microsoft
               operating systems.
PLATFORM:      Windows 98, 98SE, Windows ME, Windows NT, and Windows 2000
DAMAGE:        The vulnerability may allow a malicious user to execute
               arbitrary code on another user's system.
SOLUTION:      Apply appropriate patches as indicated below.

VULNERABILITY Risk is MEDIUM. The vulnerability affects system security and ASSESSMENT: is publicly known. Patches should be applied as soon as possible.
[****** Start of Microsoft Bulletin ******] Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS00-079) -------------------------------------- Patch Available for "HyperTerminal Buffer Overflow" Vulnerability Originally posted: October 18, 2000 Summary ======= Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates a security vulnerability in the HyperTerminal application that ships with several Microsoft(r) operating systems. This vulnerability could, under certain circumstances, allow a malicious user to execute arbitrary code on another user's system. Frequently asked questions regarding this vulnerability and the patch can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/fq00-079.asp Issue ===== The HyperTerminal application is a utility that installs, by default, on all versions of Windows 98, 98SE, Windows ME, Windows NT, and Windows 2000. The product contains an unchecked buffer in a section of the code that processes Telnet URLs. If a user opened an HTML mail that contained a particularly malformed Telnet URL, it would result in a buffer overrun that could enable the creator of the mail to cause arbitrary code to run on the user's system. Please note that, although a Telnet URL is involved in this vulnerability, there is no relationship between this vulnerability and the "Windows 2000 Telnet Client NTLM Authentication" vulnerability discussed in MS00-067. HyperTerminal is the default Telnet client on Windows 98, 98SE and ME. However, it is not the default Telnet client on Windows 2000, and Windows 2000 users who have not taken steps to make it the default Telnet client would not be affected by the vulnerability. Although HyperTerminal ships as part of several Microsoft products, it was developed by a third party - Hilgraeve, Inc. Additional information on the vulnerability and a patch for their full version product, HyperTerminal Private Edition, is available from their web site at http://www.hilgraeve.com Affected Software Versions ========================== - Microsoft Windows 98 and Windows 98SE - Microsoft Windows Me - Microsoft Windows 2000 Patch Availability ================== - Windows 98 and 98SE: http://download.microsoft.com/download/win98/Update/12395/W98/EN-US/274548USA8.EXE - Windows Me: http://download.microsoft.com/download/winme/Update/12395/WinMe/EN-US/274548USAM.EXE - Windows 2000 (can be applied to both Gold and Service Pack 1): http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?releaseid=25112 Note: The above URLs may have been wrapped for readability. Note: Additional security patches are available at the Microsoft Download Center More Information ================ Please see the following references for more information related to this issue. - Frequently Asked Questions: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS00-079, http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/fq00-079.asp - Microsoft Knowledge Base articles Q274548 (Win9x) and Q276471 (Win2K) discuss this issue and will be available soon. - A patch for HyperTerminal Private Edition (a for-purchase upgrade from the default client) is available from http://www.hilgraeve.com - Microsoft TechNet Security web site, http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/default.asp Obtaining Support on this Issue =============================== This is a fully supported patch. Information on contacting Microsoft Product Support Services is available at http://support.microsoft.com/support/contact/default.asp Acknowledgments =============== Microsoft thanks Luciano Martins of USSR Labs (www.ussrback.com) for reporting this issue to us and working with us to protect customers. Revisions ========= October 18, 2000: Bulletin Created. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. (c) 2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use [****** End of Microsoft Bulletin ******]

CIAC wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Microsoft for the information contained in this bulletin.
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UCRL-MI-119788
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