-------------------------------------------------------------------------- SNS Advisory No.76 Printing from Internet Explorer Lets Users to Cause DoS Problem first discovered on: Fri, 28 May 2004 Published on: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Severity Level: --------------- Low Overview: --------- System CPU usage could reach 100% and an extremely large number of paper sheets, more than the HTML content's actual page number, could be consumed when a certain HTML page is printed from Microsoft Internet Explorer. Problem Description: -------------------- System CPU usage could reach 100% and an extremely large number of paper sheets, more than the HTML contents's actual page number, could be consumed when a certain HTML page is printed from Microsoft Internet Explorer. This problem is attributed to some contents described in the TABLE element. Several Web pages present the same flaw, which causes the printer to consume over 500 sheets of paper. CPU usage hits 100% when the user previews the page with the "Print Preview" feature, however, it was confirmed that this condition was not a hindrance to normal system operation. Workaround: ----------- If the "Print Preview" feature shows that the number of pages to be printed overly exceeds the actual number of the HTML pages, print the contents by using another application (Web browser). It is not known whether a patch will be released soon. Discovered by: -------------- Nobuo Miwa n-miwa@xxxxxxxxx Report Process: --------------- This problem was reported to Security Response Team of Microsoft Asia Limited on June 3, 2004. Comment from Microsoft Japan: ----------------------------- Microsoft Japan has acknowledged that the issue described in this advisory does not pose any security threat. "Definition of a Security Vulnerability" by Microsoft: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/community/columns/security/essays/vulnrbl.mspx Acknowledgments: --------------- Thanks to: Security Response Team of Microsoft Asia Limited Disclaimer: ----------- The information contained in this advisory may be revised without prior notice and is provided as it is. Users shall take their own risk when taking any actions following reading this advisory. LAC Co., Ltd. shall take no responsibility for any problems, loss or damage caused by, or by the use of information provided here. This advisory can be found at the following URL: http://www.lac.co.jp/security/csl/intelligence/SNSadvisory_e/76_e.html ------------------------------------------------------------------ SecureNet Service(SNS) Security Advisory <snsadv@xxxxxxxxx> Computer Security Laboratory, LAC http://www.lac.co.jp/security/
