-----Original Message-----
From: UNIRAS (UK Govt CERT) [mailto:uniras@;niscc.gov.uk]
Sent: 17 October 2002 13:30
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: UNIRAS Brief - 357/02 - Microsoft Security Bulletins
MS02-059,060,061.
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UNIRAS (UK Govt CERT) Briefing Notice - 357/02 dated 17.10.02 Time:
13:15
UNIRAS is part of NISCC(National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination
Centre)
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UNIRAS material is also available from its website at
www.uniras.gov.uk and
Information about NISCC is available from www.niscc.gov.uk
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Title
=====
1. Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-059:Flaw in Word Fields and Excel
External Updates Could
Lead to Information Disclosure
(Q330008)
2. Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-060:Flaw in Windows XP Help and
Support Center Could Enable
File Deletion (Q328940)
3. Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-061:Elevation of Privilege in SQL
Server Web Tasks (Q316333)
Detail
======
1. A vulnerability exists because it is possible to maliciously use
field codes and external updates to steal information from a user
without the user being aware. Certain events can trigger field code
and external update to be updated, such as saving a document or by
the user manually updating the links.
2. A security vulnerability is present in the Windows XP version of
Help
and Support Center, and results because a file intended only for use
by the system is instead available for use by any web page.
3. An attacker who is able to authenticate to a SQL server could
delete,
insert or update all the web tasks created by other users. In
addition, the attacker could run already created web tasks in the
context of the creator of the web task.
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Title: Flaw in Word Fields and Excel External Updates Could
Lead to Information Disclosure (Q330008)
Date: 16 October 2002
Software: Microsoft(r) Word and Microsoft(r) Excel
Impact: Information Disclosure
Max Risk: Moderate
Bulletin: MS02-059
Microsoft encourages customers to review the Security Bulletin at:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-059.asp.
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Issue:
======
Word and Excel provide a mechanism through which data from one
document can be inserted to and updated in another document. This
mechanism, known as field codes in Word and external updates in
Excel, can be automated to reduce the amount of manual effort
required by a user. An example of the use of Word field codes could
be the automatic insertion of a standard disclaimer paragraph in a
legal document. An example of the use of external updates in Excel
could be the automatic updating of a chart in one spreadsheet using
data in a different spreadsheet.
A vulnerability exists because it is possible to maliciously use
field codes and external updates to steal information from a user
without the user being aware. Certain events can trigger field code
and external update to be updated, such as saving a document or by
the user manually updating the links. Normally the user would be
aware of these updates occurring, however a specially crafted field
code or external update can be used to trigger an update without any
indication to the user. This could enable an attacker to create a
document that, when opened, would update itself to include the
contents of a file from the user's local computer.
In order for an attacker to take advantage of this vulnerability,
the attacker would need to perform the following steps:
-Craft a Word or Excel document that exploits the vulnerability
-Deliver it to the user, via email or some other method
-Entice the user to open the document
-Return the document to the attacker. (Microsoft is aware of one
case in which it would not be necessary for the user to do this.
There is one method through which the attacker's document could
post information directly to a web site, but it would only allow
the first line of the file to be sent)
Mitigating Factors:
====================
- - - - The attacker would need to know the location of the file that he
or
she wanted to steal. If the correct filename were not presented,
the attack would fail and an invalid field error message would be
present in the document.
- - - - The user could always view the field codes or external updates.
The
field codes or external updates used in the attack can be revealed,
as they are only hidden to prevent cluttering the document when it
is being viewed or edited. A method of checking documents for
additional undesired information is described in the Frequently
Asked Questions below.
- - - - Although the attacker could take some steps to obscure the
stolen
information, the attacker would leave a clear audit trail. Since
the field codes or external updates can be viewed, even if an attack
is successful, the attacker would leave clear evidence in the
document in the form of the stolen information and the malicious
field codes used. This evidence could be used by law enforcement
agencies if required
- - - - The vulnerability would not enable the attacker to delete,
modify
or add any files to the user's local system.
- - - - In virtually all circumstances, the attacker would need to
entice
the user into returning the document. No information would be
revealed unless the user returned the document to the attacker.
Risk Rating:
============
- Internet systems: None
- Intranet systems: None
- Client systems: Moderate
Patch Availability:
===================
- A patch is available to fix this vulnerability. Please read the
Security Bulletin at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms02-059.asp
for information on obtaining this patch.
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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.
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Title: Flaw in Windows XP Help and Support Center Could Enable
File Deletion (Q328940)
Date: 16 October 2002
Software: Microsoft Windows XP
Impact: Delete files on the user's system
Max Risk: Moderate
Bulletin: MS02-060
Microsoft encourages customers to review the Security Bulletin at:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-060.asp.
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Issue:
======
Help and Support Center provides a centralized facility through which
users can obtain assistance on a variety of topics. For instance, it
provides product documentation, assistance in determining hardware
compatibility, access to Windows Update, online help from Microsoft,
and other assistance.
A security vulnerability is present in the Windows XP version of Help
and Support Center, and results because a file intended only for use
by the system is instead available for use by any web page. The
purpose of the file is to enable anonymous upload of hardware
information, with the user's permission, so that Microsoft can
evaluate which devices users are not currently finding device drivers
for. This information is then used to work with hardware vendors and
device teams to improve the quality and quantity of drivers available
in Windows. By design, after attempting to upload an XML file
containing the hardware information, the system deletes it.
An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by constructing a web
page that, when opened, would call the errant function and supply the
name of an existing file or folder as the argument. The attempt to
upload the file or folder would fail, but the file nevertheless would
be deleted. The page could be hosted on a web site in order to attack
users visiting the site, or could be sent as an HTML mail in order to
attack the recipient when it was opened.
Mitigating Factors:
====================
- - - - Customers who have applied Windows XP Service Pack 1 are at no
risk
from the vulnerability.
- - - - The vulnerability could not be exploited without some degree of
user interaction. Even in the most attacker-favorable case, the
Help and Support Center window would appear unexpectedly and the
file deletion could not occur until the user responded. (Even
selecting Cancel, though, would enable the deletion to occur). If
the user killed the process rather than responding, the deletion
could not occur.
- - - - For an attack to be successful, the user would need to visit a
website under the attacker's control or receive an HTML e-mail
from the attacker.
- - - - The vulnerability would not enable an attacker to take any
action
other than deleting files. It would not grant any form of
administrative control over the system, nor would it enable the
attacker to read or modify files.
- - - - The Help and Support Center function could not be started
automatically in Outlook Express or Outlook if the user is running
Internet Explorer 6.0 Service Pack 1, or in Outlook 2002 if "Read
as Plain Text" is enabled.
- - - - In order to delete a file, the attacker would need to know its
exact file and path name. To delete a folder, the attacker would
need to know its exact path.
- - - - If the attacker used the vulnerability to disrupt system
operation, Automatic System Recovery would provide a means of
restoring normal operation. In addition, Windows XP will
automatically restore many system files if deleted.
Risk Rating:
============
- Internet systems: Low
- Intranet systems: Low
- Client systems: Moderate
Patch Availability:
===================
- A patch is available to fix this vulnerability. Please read the
Security Bulletin at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms02-060.asp
for information on obtaining this patch.
Acknowledgment:
===============
- Shane Hird of the Distributed Systems Technology Centre
(http://security.dstc.edu.au)
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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.
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Title: Elevation of Privilege in SQL Server Web Tasks (Q316333)
Released: 16 October 2002
Software: Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 and 2000
Impact: Elevation of privilege
Max Risk: Critical
Bulletin: MS02-061
Microsoft encourages customers to review the Security Bulletin at:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-061.asp.
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Issue:
======
SQL Server 7.0 and 2000 provide stored procedures which is a coll-
ection of Transact-SQL statements stored under a name and processed
as a group. One stored procedure, an extended stored procedure and
weak permissions on a table combine to allow a low privileged user
the ability to run, delete, insert or update web tasks.
An attacker who is able to authenticate to a SQL server could delete,
insert or update all the web tasks created by other users. In
addition, the attacker could run already created web tasks in the
context of the creator of the web task. This typically runs in the
context of the SQL Server Agent service account.
Mitigating Factors:
====================
- - - - It is necessary to be an authenticated user of the SQL Server.
- - - - Exploiting this vulnerability could allow the attacker to
escalate
privileges to the level of the SQL Server service account. By
default, the service runs with the privileges of a domain user,
rather than with system privileges.
- - - - Web tasks have to exist in the first place.
Risk Rating:
============
- Internet systems: Critical
- Intranet systems: Critical
- Client systems: None
Patch Availability:
===================
- A patch is available to fix this vulnerability. Please read the
Security Bulletin at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms02-061.asp
for information on obtaining this patch.
Acknowledgment:
===============
- Microsoft thanks David Litchfield of Next Generation Security
Software Ltd. for reporting this issue to us and working with
us to protect customers. We would also like to thank Martin
Rakhmanoff ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) for contributing to the
investigation.
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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.
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UNIRAS wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Microsoft for the
information
contained in this Briefing.
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This Briefing contains the information released by the original author.
Some
of the information may have changed since it was released. If the
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<End of UNIRAS Briefing>
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