Topic: buffer overflow in mshtml.dll Authors: ERRor and DarkZorro of domain Hell 3APA3A of SECURITY.NNOV Date: February, 13 2002 Vendor Informed: December, 20 2001 Software affected: Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 and prior Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 and prior* Microsoft Outlook 2000 and prior* Remote: Yes Exploitable: Yes Risk: High SECURITY.NNOV advisories: http://www.security.nnov.ru/advisories Thanks to: Microsoft Security Response Center and CERT for working with us Andrey Kolishak for helpful additional information on this issue Description: mshtml.dll contains buffer overflow while parsing HTML with embedded ActiveX components. Stack overrun occurs during concatenation of two Unicode strings. It's possible to exploit this vulnerability to execute any code of attacker's choice (we do have proof-of-concept code, it will be published later with details of vulnerability). This overflow can only be exploited if "Run ActiveX Controls and Plugins" security option is enabled. *This option is disabled by default for Restricted Sites Zone Outlook 2000, Outlook Express 6.0 and prior with security update installed open all mail, but enabled by default in all different cases. This bug doesn't depend on Windows version. Workaround: Make sue "Run ActiveX Controls and Plugins" option is disabled for Internet and Restricted Sites zones in security options of Internet Explorer. Check security zone for Outlook Express is set to Restricted Sites. Vendor and Solution: Microsoft was notified on December, 20 2001. On February, 11 2002 Microsoft released advisory MS02-005 and cumulative patch q316059 for Microsoft Internet Explorer http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/critical/q316059/default.asp -- http://www.security.nnov.ru /\_/\ { , . } |\ +--oQQo->{ ^ }<-----+ \ | ZARAZA U 3APA3A } +-------------o66o--+ / |/ You know my name - look up my number (The Beatles)