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SNS Advisory No.48
Microsoft Internet Explorer Still Download And Execute ANY Program Automatically
Problem first discovered: Wed, 13 Feb 2002
Published: Mon, 18 Mar 2002
Revised: Thu, 16 May 2002
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Overview:
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Microsoft Internet Explorer contains a vulnerability which allows
for downloading of a file and its automatic execution under several
circumstances without the knowledge of the user. If a malicious
webmaster creates a website containing malicious contents that can
exploit this problem, and if the user has access to these contents
using Internet Explorer under specific environments, then arbitrary
programs specified by the administrator will be automatically
downloaded and executed on the user's system.
Problem Description:
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A vulnerability exists in Microsoft Internet Explorer which could
lead to automatic downloading and execution of a file under several
environments. This can be achieved when a user views contents
including the following header in HTTP responses:
Content-Type: audio/x-ms-wma
Content-disposition: inline; filename="foo.exe"
It is important to note that the above-mentioned description is just
an example and that this vulnerability has been confirmed exploitable
using other Content-Type: headers, such as Content-Type: audio/midi.
This vulnerability affects the following environments: (our previous
advisory stated that only IE 6 was affected by this vulnerability,
however, it has been confirmed through further investigation that
IE 5.01 SP2 is also vulnerable to this issue)
(1) Windows NT 4.0 Workstation + SP6a
+ IE 6 + all available fixes [Japanese version]
(2) Windows NT 4.0 Workstation + SP6a + Windows Media Player 6.4
+ IE 6 + all available fixes [Japanese version]
(3) Windows 2000 Professional + SP2 + SRP1 + Windows Media Player 6.4
+ IE 6 + all available fixes [Japanese version]
(4) Windows 2000 Professional + SP2 + SRP1 + Windows Media Player 6.4
+ IE 5.01 SP2 + all available fixes [Japanese version]
(5) Windows 98 + Windows 98 System Update + Windows Media Player 6.4
+ IE 6 + all available fixes [Japanese version]
(6) Windows 2000 Professional + SP2 + SRP1 + Windows Media Player 7.1
+ IE 6 + Office 2000 SR-1 + all available fixes [Japanese version]
Note: Windows Media Player 6.4 is installed by default on Windows 2000
and Windows 98.
Solution:
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This problem can be eliminated by applying a patch based on the
information provided by Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-023.
Microsoft Security Bulletin 02-023:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-023.asp
Discovered by:
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Yuu Arai (LAC) y.arai@lac.co.jp
Acknowledgements:
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Thanks to:
Microsoft Security Response Center
Japan PSS Security Response Team of Microsoft Asia Limited
Disclaimer:
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All information in these advisories are subject to change without any advanced
notices neither mutual consensus, and each of them is released as it is. LAC
Co.,Ltd. is not responsible for any risks of occurrences caused by applying those
information.
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SecureNet Service(SNS) Security Advisory <snsadv@lac.co.jp>
Computer Security Laboratory, LAC http://www.lac.co.jp/security/
