__________________________________________________________
The U.S. Department of Energy
Computer Incident Advisory Capability
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__________________________________________________________
INFORMATION BULLETIN
Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office
[Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-038 (917284)]
July 12, 2006 18:00 GMT Number Q-243
[REVISED 21 Jul 2006]
______________________________________________________________________________
PROBLEM: A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Office, and
could be exploited when a malformed string included in an
Office file was parsed by any of the affected Office
applications. Such a string might be included in an email
attachment processed by one of the affected applications or
hosted on a malicious web site. Viewing or previewing a
malformed email message in an affected version of Outlook could
not lead to exploitation of this vulnerability. An attacker
could exploit the vulnerability by constructing a specially
crafted Office file that could allow remote code execution.
PLATFORM: Microsoft Access 2003
Microsoft Excel 2003 Microsoft Excel 2003 Viewer
Microsoft FrontPage 2003
Microsoft InfoPath 2003
Microsoft OneNote 2003
Microsoft Outlook 2003
Microsoft PowerPoint 2003
Microsoft Project 2003
Microsoft Publisher 2003
Microsoft Visio 2003
Microsoft Word 2003
Microsoft Word 2003 Viewer
Microsoft Access 2002
Microsoft Excel 2002
Microsoft FrontPage 2002
Microsoft Outlook 2002
Microsoft PowerPoint 2002
Microsoft Publisher 2002
Microsoft Visio 2002
Microsoft Word 2002
Microsoft Access 2000
Microsoft Excel 2000
Microsoft FrontPage 2000
Microsoft Outlook 2000
Microsoft PowerPoint 2000
Microsoft Publisher 2000
Microsoft Word 2000
Microsoft Project 2002 Service Pack 1
Microsoft Visio 2002 Service Pack 2
Microsoft Project 2000 Service Release 1
Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac
Microsoft Office v. X for Mac
DAMAGE: When using vulnerable versions of Office, if a user were logged
on with administrative user rights, an attacker who
successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete
control of the client workstation. An attacker could then
install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new
accounts with full user rights.
SOLUTION: Apply current patches.
______________________________________________________________________________
VULNERABILITY The risk is MEDIUM. If a user were logged on with
ASSESSMENT: administrative user rights, an attacker who successfully
exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of the
client workstation.
______________________________________________________________________________
LINKS:
CIAC BULLETIN: http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/q-243.shtml
ORIGINAL BULLETIN: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS06-038.mspx
CVE: http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=
CVE-2006-1316 CVE-2006-1540 CVE-2006-2389
______________________________________________________________________________
REVISION HISTORY:
07/21/2006 - revised to reflect the changes Microsoft has made in MS06-038 where
they updated the "What updates does this release replace?" regarding
MS05-005 for Office XP.
[***** Start Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-038 (917284) *****]
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-038
Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office Could Allow Remote Code Execution (917284)
Published: July 11, 2006 | Updated: July 19, 2006
Version: 1.2
Summary
Who Should Read this Document: Customers who use Microsoft Office
Impact of Vulnerability: Remote Code Execution
Maximum Severity Rating: Critical
Recommendation: Customers should apply the update immediately
Security Update Replacement: None
Caveats: None
Tested Software and Security Update Download Locations:
Affected Software:
•
Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2 - Download the update (KB917151)
•
Microsoft Access 2003
•
Microsoft Excel 2003
•
Microsoft Excel 2003 Viewer
•
Microsoft FrontPage 2003
•
Microsoft InfoPath 2003
•
Microsoft OneNote 2003
•
Microsoft Outlook 2003
•
Microsoft PowerPoint 2003
•
Microsoft Project 2003
•
Microsoft Publisher 2003
•
Microsoft Visio 2003
•
Microsoft Word 2003
•
Microsoft Word 2003 Viewer
•
Microsoft Office XP Service Pack 3 - Download the update (KB917150)
•
Microsoft Access 2002
•
Microsoft Excel 2002
•
Microsoft FrontPage 2002
•
Microsoft Outlook 2002
•
Microsoft PowerPoint 2002
•
Microsoft Publisher 2002
•
Microsoft Visio 2002
•
Microsoft Word 2002
•
Microsoft Office 2000 Service Pack 3 - Download the update (KB917152)
•
Microsoft Access 2000
•
Microsoft Excel 2000
•
Microsoft FrontPage 2000
•
Microsoft Outlook 2000
•
Microsoft PowerPoint 2000
•
Microsoft Publisher 2000
•
Microsoft Word 2000
•
Microsoft Project 2002 Service Pack 1 - Download the update (KB917150)
•
Microsoft Visio 2002 Service Pack 2 - Download the update (KB917150)
•
Microsoft Project 2000 Service Release 1 Download the update (KB917152)
•
Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac
•
Microsoft Office v. X for Mac
Non-Affected Software:
•
Microsoft Works Suites:
•
Microsoft Works Suite 2004
•
Microsoft Works Suite 2005
•
Microsoft Works Suite 2006
The software in this list has been tested to determine whether the versions are affected. Other versions either no longer include
security update support or may not be affected. To determine the support life cycle for your product and version, visit the Microsoft
Support Lifecycle Web site.
Top of sectionTop of section
General Information
Executive Summary
This update resolves several newly discovered, privately reported and public vulnerabilities. Each vulnerability is documented in
this bulletin in its own "Vulnerability Details" section.
When using vulnerable versions of Office, if a user were logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker who successfully
exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of the client workstation. An attacker could then install programs; view,
change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. 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.
We recommend that customers apply the update immediately.
Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers:
Vulnerability Identifiers Impact of Vulnerability Microsoft Office 2003 Microsoft Office XP Microsoft Office 2000
Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac or Microsoft Office v. X for Mac
Microsoft Office Parsing Vulnerability - CVE-2006-1316
Remote Code Execution
Important
Important
Critical
Important
Microsoft Office Malformed String Parsing Vulnerability - CVE-2006-1540
Remote Code Execution
Important
Important
Critical
Important
Microsoft Office Property Vulnerability - CVE-2006-2389
Remote Code Execution
Important
Important
Critical
Important
Aggregate Severity of All Vulnerabilities
Important
Important
Critical
Important
This assessment is based on the types of systems that are affected by the vulnerability, their typical deployment patterns, and the
effect that exploiting the vulnerability would have on them.
Top of sectionTop of section
Vulnerability Details
Microsoft Office Parsing Vulnerability - CVE-2006-1316
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Office, and could be exploited when a malformed string included in an Office file was
parsed by any of the affected Office applications. Such a string might be included in an email attachment processed by one of the
affected applications or hosted on a malicious web site. Viewing or previewing a malformed email message in an affected version of Outlook
could not lead to exploitation of this vulnerability. An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by constructing a specially crafted
Office file that could allow remote code execution.
If a user were logged on with administrative user rights, 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. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less affected than users who operate with
administrative user rights.
Mitigating Factors for Microsoft Office Parsing Vulnerability - CVE-2006-1316
•
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.
•
On Outlook 2002 and Outlook 2003, the vulnerability could not be exploited automatically through e-mail. For an attack to be successful a
user must accept a prompt confirming that they Open, Save or Cancel the attachment that is sent in an e-mail message before the exploit could
occur.
•
In a Web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a Web site that contains a Web page that is used to exploit this vulnerability. In
addition, compromised Web sites and Web sites that accept or host user-provided content or advertisements could contain specially crafted content
that could exploit this vulnerability. In all cases, however, an attacker would have no way to force users to visit these Web sites. Instead,
an attacker would have to persuade users to visit the Web site, typically by getting them to click a link in an e-mail message or instant messenger
message that takes users to the attacker's Web site.
Note Office 2000 does not prompt the user to Open, Save, or Cancel before opening a document.
Top of sectionTop of section
Microsoft Office Malformed String Parsing Vulnerability - CVE-2006-1540
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Office, and could be exploited when a malformed string included in an Office file was parsed by
any of the affected Office applications. Such a string might be included in an email attachment processed by one of the affected applications
or hosted on a malicious web site. Viewing or previewing a malformed email message in an affected version of Outlook could not lead to exploitation
of this vulnerability. An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by constructing a specially crafted Office file that could allow remote code
execution.
If a user were logged on with administrative user rights, 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. Users whose
accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less affected than users who operate with administrative user rights.
Mitigating Factors for Microsoft Office Malformed String Parsing Vulnerability - CVE-2006-1540
•
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.
•
On Outlook 2002 and Outlook 2003, the vulnerability could not be exploited automatically through e-mail. For an attack to be successful a user must
accept a prompt confirming that they Open, Save or Cancel the attachment that is sent in an e-mail message before the exploit could occur.
•
In a Web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a Web site that contains a Web page that is used to exploit this vulnerability. In addition,
compromised Web sites and Web sites that accept or host user-provided content or advertisements could contain specially crafted content that could
exploit this vulnerability. In all cases, however, an attacker would have no way to force users to visit these Web sites. Instead, an attacker would
have to persuade users to visit the Web site, typically by getting them to click a link in an e-mail message or instant messenger message that takes
users to the attacker's Web site.
Note Office 2000 does not prompt the user to Open, Save, or Cancel before opening a document.
Top of sectionTop of section
Microsoft Office Property Vulnerability - CVE-2006-2389
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Office, and could be exploited when a malformed property included in an Office file was parsed by any
of the affected Office applications. Such a property might be included in an email attachment processed by one of the affected applications or hosted
on a malicious web site. Viewing or previewing a malformed email message in an affected version of Outlook could not lead to exploitation of this
vulnerability. An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by constructing a specially crafted Office file that could allow remote code execution.
If a user were logged on with administrative user rights, 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. Users whose accounts
are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less affected than users who operate with administrative user rights.
Mitigating Factors for Microsoft Office Property Vulnerability - CVE-2006-2389
•
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.
•
On Outlook 2002 and Outlook 2003, the vulnerability could not be exploited automatically through e-mail. For an attack to be successful a user must
accept a prompt confirming that they Open, Save or Cancel the attachment that is sent in an e-mail message before the exploit could occur.
•
In a Web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a Web site that contains a Web page that is used to exploit this vulnerability. In addition,
compromised Web sites and Web sites that accept or host user-provided content or advertisements could contain specially crafted content that could exploit
this vulnerability. In all cases, however, an attacker would have no way to force users to visit these Web sites. Instead, an attacker would have to
persuade users to visit the Web site, typically by getting them to click a link in an e-mail message or instant messenger message that takes users to the
attacker's Web site.
Note Office 2000 does not prompt the user to Open, Save, or Cancel before opening a document.
Top of sectionTop of section
Acknowledgments
Microsoft thanks the following for working with us to help protect customers:
•
Elia Florio of Symantec for reporting for reporting Microsoft Office Malformed String Parsing Vulnerability – CVE-2006-1540.
Obtaining Other Security Updates:
Updates for other security issues are available at the following locations:
•
Security updates are available at the Microsoft Download Center. You can find them most easily by doing a keyword search for "security_patch."
•
Updates for consumer platforms are available at the Microsoft Update Web site.
Support:
•
Customers in the U.S. and Canada can receive technical support from Microsoft Product Support Services at 1-866-PCSAFETY. There is no charge for support
calls that are associated with security updates.
•
International customers can receive support from their local Microsoft subsidiaries. There is no charge for support that is associated with security
updates. For more information about how to contact Microsoft for support issues, visit the International Support Web site.
Security Resources:
•
The Microsoft TechNet Security Web site provides additional information about security in Microsoft products.
•
Microsoft Software Update Services
•
Microsoft Windows Server Update Services
•
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA)
•
Windows Update
•
Microsoft Update
•
Windows Update Catalog: For more information about the Windows Update Catalog, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 323166.
•
Office Update
Software Update Services:
By using Microsoft Software Update Services (SUS), administrators can quickly and reliably deploy the latest critical updates and security updates to
Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003-based servers, and to desktop systems that are running Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP Professional.
For more information about how to deploy security updates by using Software Update Services, visit the Software Update Services Web site.
Windows Server Update Services:
By using Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), administrators can quickly and reliably deploy the latest critical updates and security updates for
Windows 2000 operating systems and later, Office XP and later, Exchange Server 2003, and SQL Server 2000 onto Windows 2000 and later operating systems.
For more information about how to deploy security updates using Windows Server Update Services, visit the Windows Server Update Services Web site.
Systems Management Server:
Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) delivers a highly configurable enterprise solution for managing updates. By using SMS, administrators can
identify Windows-based systems that require security updates and can perform controlled deployment of these updates throughout the enterprise with minimal
disruption to end users. For more information about how administrators can use SMS 2003 to deploy security updates, visit the SMS 2003 Security Patch
Management Web site. SMS 2.0 users can also use Software Updates Service Feature Pack to help deploy security updates. For information about SMS, visit
the SMS Web site.
Note SMS uses the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer, the Microsoft Office Detection Tool, and the Enterprise Update Scanning Tool to provide broad
support for security bulletin update detection and deployment. Some software updates may not be detected by these tools. Administrators can use the inventory
capabilities of the SMS in these cases to target updates to specific systems. For more information about this procedure, visit the following Web site. Some
security updates require administrative rights following a restart of the system. Administrators can use the Elevated Rights Deployment Tool (available in
the SMS 2003 Administration Feature Pack and in the SMS 2.0 Administration Feature Pack) to install these updates.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in the Microsoft Knowledge Base is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Microsoft disclaims all warranties, either express
or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event shall Microsoft Corporation or its suppliers be
liable for any damages whatsoever including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, loss of business profits or special damages, even if Microsoft
Corporation or its suppliers have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for
consequential or incidental damages so the foregoing limitation may not apply.
Revisions:
• V1.0 (July 11, 2006): Bulletin published.
• V1.1 (July 12, 2006): Bulletin updated to provide clarity around the “Administrative Installation File Information” for Office 2000 in the “Security Update Section”.
• V1.2 (July 19, 2006): Bulletin updated the “What updates does this release replace?” regarding MS05-005 for Office XP.
Top of pageTop of page
[***** End Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-038 (917284) *****]
_______________________________________________________________________________
CIAC wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Microsoft for the
information contained in this bulletin.
_______________________________________________________________________________
CIAC, the Computer Incident Advisory Capability, is the computer
security incident response team for the U.S. Department of Energy
(DOE) and the emergency backup response team for the National
Institutes of Health (NIH). CIAC is located at the Lawrence Livermore
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constituencies can be obtained via WWW at http://www.first.org/.
This document was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an
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Government nor the University of California nor any of their
employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any
legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or
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