Hi Michael,

 do ya mean Java (comes in class/jar files) or Javascript (simple text) ? If
 Java, which I doubt, how does it execute ? Which version (JPI/MSJVM?),
 please provide stackdumps ...

Marc


On Thu, 22 Jul 2004, Michael Scheidell wrote:

> Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2004 11:36:07 -0400
> From: Michael Scheidell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],
>      [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Comcast(tm) Email Manager allows arbitrary java and activex code
>     execution
>
> Vulnerability in Comcast Webmail Manager allows arbitrary java and activex code 
> execution
> Systems: Comcast Webmail email system. www.comcast.net
> Vulnerable: X-Mailer: AT&T Message Center Version 1 (Mar 22 2004)
> Not Vulnerable: Unknown
> Severity: Serious / Low (Fixed now)
> Category: Arbitrary Execution of Code of Hackers Choice
> Classification: Input Validation Error
> BugTraq-ID: TBA
> CVE-Number: TBA
> Remote Exploit: yes
> Local Exploit: no
> Vendor URL: www.comcast.net
> Author: Michael S. Scheidell, SECNAP Network Security
> Original Release date: April 7, 2004
> Notifications: Comcast notified April 7, 2004
> Public Release date: July 22, 2004
>
> Discussion: from www.comcast.com
> High-Speed Internet. This is the fastest way to travel the Web! It's cable-powered, 
> so it's always connected and you won't tie up your phone lines. It's a faster, more 
> powerful and more convenient Internet experience.
>
> Note: This is not so much a warning to Comcast or their users, since Comcast has 
> fixed this problem, but more of a warning to every developer or CSIO to make sure 
> that web based email, blogs, information, memos must check their code to make sure 
> it is safe. See additional notifications of similar problems with GoldMine(tm) 
> http://www.secnap.com/security/gm001.html, and sprintmail picture mail at 
> http://www.secnap.com/security/030711.html
>
> Problem: There was a potential for hackers to use this vulnerability to specially 
> craft emails that will run random code of their choice on users' computers - 
> including remote Trojans, irc zombies, spyware, malware, and remote key loggers. 
> This program would run inside the corporate network, behind the firewall and access 
> anything the infected user has access to.
>
> The Comcast Webmail did not run the html email in the 'security zone' as does 
> Microsoft(tm) Outlook, but passed anything that looks like HTML to be executed 
> unrestricted directly to the default Browser (usually IE). Linux/or Unix users with 
> Netscape may have the javascript, page redirection and popup email run, however, the 
> activeX component will not run.
>
> Comcast users have the option of using Comcast Webmail or Outlook Express.  Because 
> of the inability to disable html/java/or active-x in Comcast Webmail, those using 
> Webmail had an increased chance of their computers' becoming infected in the event 
> of a potential hacker either a) referencing active-x controls or b) including 
> javascript within an HTML e-mail message.
>
> The above has been tested on a Windows(tm) 2000 system with service pack 4, all 
> Internet Explorer patches and default (factory) Internet zone security settings. 
> Also tested were two Windows XP(tm) systems with service pack 1 and all patches as 
> well as Netscape 7.1 on Linux.
>
> The security community first became aware of the potential for this kind of threat 
> about two years ago.  Software companies that produce Web-based email, blog or input 
> system must check for arbitrary java and html code.  Note:  the original Web Mail 
> system was written by AT&T and was inherited by Comcast during their purchase of 
> AT&T's broadband business.
>
> Exploit: No exploit is necessary, as there are already examples in viruses and 
> trojans that were designed to attack Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express.
>
> Microsoft fixed these by patching both readers and allowing the user to set the 
> security zone for reading HTML email in the 'insecure' settings.
>
> To see an exhaustive list of what can happen when email is passed to IE, see 
> <http://www.guninski.com/browsers.html>
>
> Vendor Response: April 7, 2004. A Comcast representative called our office 
> immediately.  Comcast worked quickly on fixing this bug and rolling it out to their 
> servers, with a solution in place by April 13, 2004.  Release of this notification 
> was held back waiting for Comcast to decide how and when to self-release.
>
> Solution:
> Comcast is now filtering out various forms of scripting.
>
> Credit:
> Michael Scheidell, SECNAP Network Security, www.secnap.com
> The original problem with IIE, Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express was found by 
> George Grunski and involved insecure default reading of a malformed HTML in Outlook 
> and OE and insecure running of HTML (see <http://www.guninski.com/browsers.html>) 
> And thanks to Johannes B. Ullrich, CTO SANS Internet Storm Center for assistance.
>
> Original copy of this report can be found here
> <http://www.secnap.com/security/20040406.html>
>
> Copyright:
> Above Copyright(c) 2004, SECNAP Network Security Corporation. World rights reserved.
>
> This security report can be copied and redistributed electronically provided it is 
> not edited and is quoted in its entirety without written consent of SECNAP Network 
> Security Corporation. Additional information or permission may be obtained by 
> contacting SECNAP Network Security at 561-999-5000
>

--

Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the
ark; professionals built the Titanic. -- Anonymous

Marc Sch�nefeld Dipl. Wirtsch.-Inf. / Software Developer

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