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Vulnerability in Microsoft Management Console Allows Code Execution
(MS06-044)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
There is a remote code execution vulnerability in Windows Management
Console that could allow an attacker who successfully exploited this
vulnerability to take complete control of the affected system.
DETAILS
Affected Software:
Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 -
<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=87fe4c18-21dc-4d83-a1d8-503b92fdba2b>
Download the update
Non-Affected Software:
* Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 and Microsoft Windows XP Service
Pack 2
* Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
* Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service
Pack 1
* Microsoft Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based Systems and Microsoft
Windows Server 2003 with SP1 for Itanium-based Systems
* Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition
Mitigating Factors for MMC Redirect Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability -
CVE-2006-3643:
* Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 on Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 will
not open local files from the Internet Zone. Note that Explorer 6 Service
Pack 1 will still open local files, and thus is vulnerable, from sites in
the Local Intranet or Trusted Sites zones.
* An attacker would have to host a Web site that contains a Web page that
is used to exploit this vulnerability. An attacker would have no way to
force users to visit a specially crafted Web site. Instead, an attacker
would have to persuade them to visit the Web site, typically by getting
them to click a link that takes them to the attacker's Web site. After
they click the link, they would be prompted to perform several actions. An
attack could only occur after they performed these actions.
* An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain
the same user rights as the local user. Users whose accounts are
configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted
than users who operate with administrative user rights.
By default, Outlook Express 6, Outlook 2002, and Outlook 2003 open HTML
e-mail messages in the Restricted sites zone. Additionally, Outlook 98 and
Outlook 2000 open HTML e-mail messages in the Restricted sites zone if the
Outlook E-mail Security Update has been installed. Outlook Express 5.5
Service Pack 2 opens HTML e-mail messages in the Restricted sites zone if
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-018 has been installed. The Restricted
sites zone helps reduce attacks that could try to exploit this
vulnerability.
The risk of attack from the HTML e-mail vector can be significantly
reduced if you meet all the following conditions:
* Apply the update that is included with Microsoft Security Bulletin
MS03-040 or a later Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer.
* Use Internet Explorer 6 or a later version.
* Use the latest security update for Microsoft Outlook, use Microsoft
Outlook Express 6 or a later version, or use Microsoft Outlook 2000
Service Pack 2 or a later version in its default configuration.
Workarounds for MMC Redirect Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability -
CVE-2006-3643:
Microsoft has tested the following workarounds. Although these workarounds
will not correct the underlying vulnerability, they help block known
attack vectors. When a workaround reduces functionality, it is identified
in the following section.
* Disable active scripting in the My Computer zone
More information on the values being modified by this workaround can be
found at the following Web site. There are two ways to deploy this
workaround:
Note Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may
require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee
that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be
solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk. For information about how to
edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in
Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or view the "Add and Delete Information in
the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe.
Note We recommend backing up the registry before you edit
1. Click Start, click Run, type "regedit32 " (without the quotation
marks), and then click OK.
2. In Registry Editor, locate the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet
Settings\Zones\0
3. Double click the DWORD Value: 1400. Set the value to 3.
4. Close any instances of Internet Explorer. The change takes effect the
next time Internet Explorer is started.
* Read e-mail messages in plain text format if you are using Outlook 2002
or a later version, or Outlook Express 6 SP1 or a later version, to help
protect yourself from the HTML e-mail attack vector.
Microsoft Outlook 2002 users who have applied Office XP Service Pack 1 or
a later version and Microsoft Outlook Express 6 users who have applied
Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 or a later version can enable this
setting and view e-mail messages that are not digitally signed or e-mail
messages that are not encrypted in plain text only.
Digitally signed e-mail messages or encrypted e-mail messages are not
affected by the setting and may be read in their original formats. For
more information about how to enable this setting in Outlook 2002, see
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 307594.
For information about this setting in Outlook Express 6, see Microsoft
Knowledge Base Article 291387.
Impact of Workaround: E-mail messages that are viewed in plain text format
will not contain pictures, specialized fonts, animations, or other rich
content. Additionally:
* The changes are applied to the preview pane and to open messages.
* Pictures become attachments so that they are not lost.
* Because the message is still in Rich Text or HTML format in the store,
the object model (custom code solutions) may behave unexpectedly.
FAQ for MMC Redirect Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability - CVE-2006-3643:
This is a remote code execution vulnerability. An attacker who
successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of
an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change,
or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. To attempt
to exploit the vulnerability, an attacker must be able to log on locally
to the system and run a program.
What causes the vulnerability?
HTML embedded resource files in the Microsoft Management Console library
can be directly referenced from the Internet or Intranet zone via Internet
Explorer, resulting in remote code execution.
Internet Explorer 5.01 users are vulnerable from any URLs in the Internet
Zone.
Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 users are vulnerable from any URLs in
the Intranet Zone; by default Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 blocks
local file access from URLs in the Internet Zone.
What is Microsoft Management Console?
Microsoft Management console is an integrated administration user
interface and administration model for Windows-based environments. See the
Microsoft Management Console Web site.
What might an attacker use the vulnerability to do?
An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take
complete control of the affected system.
How could an attacker exploit the vulnerability?
In a Web-based attack scenario, an attacker would have to host a Web site
that contains a Web page that is used to attempt to exploit this
vulnerability. An attacker would have no way to force users to visit a
specially crafted Web site. Instead, an attacker would have to persuade
them to visit the Web site, typically by getting them to click a link that
takes them to the attacker's site. It could also be possible to display
specially crafted Web content by using banner advertisements or by using
other methods to deliver Web content to affected systems.
What systems are primarily at risk from the vulnerability?
Windows 2000 systems are primarily at risk from this vulnerability.
Could the vulnerability be exploited over the Internet?
Yes. An attacker could try to exploit this vulnerability over the
Internet.
What does the update do?
The update removes the vulnerability by preventing specially crafted files
and directories from invoking arbitrary code without specific user
intervention.
When this security bulletin was issued, had this vulnerability been
publicly disclosed?
No. Microsoft received information about this vulnerability through
responsible disclosure.
When this security bulletin was issued, had Microsoft received any reports
that this vulnerability was being exploited?
No. Microsoft had not received any information to indicate that this
vulnerability had been publicly used to attack customers and had not seen
any examples of proof of concept code published when this security
bulletin was originally issued.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The information has been provided by Microsoft Product Security.
The original article can be found at:
<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS06-044.mspx>
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS06-044.mspx
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