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The U.S. Department of Energy
Computer Incident Advisory Capability
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INFORMATION BULLETIN

Vulnerability in Windows Explorer
[Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-045 (921398)]

August 8, 2006 21:00 GMT Number Q-276
______________________________________________________________________________
PROBLEM: A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Windows
Explorer because of the way that Windows Explorer handles Drag
and Drop events. An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by
constructing a malicious Web page that could potentially allow
an attacker to save a file on the user’s system if a user
visited a malicious Web site or viewed a malicious e-mail
message.
PLATFORM: Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
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
DAMAGE: An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could
take complete control of an affected system.
SOLUTION: Apply current patches.
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VULNERABILITY The risk is HIGH. An attacker who successfully exploited this
ASSESSMENT: vulnerability could take complete control of an affected
system.
______________________________________________________________________________
LINKS:
CIAC BULLETIN: http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/q-276.shtml
ORIGINAL BULLETIN: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS06-045.mspx
CVE: http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2006-3281
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[***** Start Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-045 (921398) *****]

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-045
Vulnerability in Windows Explorer Could Allow Remote Code Execution (921398)
Published: August 8, 2006

Version: 1.0
Summary

Who should read this document: Customers who use Microsoft Windows

Impact of Vulnerability: Remote Code Execution

Maximum Severity Rating: Important

Recommendation: Customers should apply the update at the earliest opportunity.

Security Update Replacement: This bulletin replaces a prior security update. See the frequently asked questions (FAQ) section of this bulletin for the complete list.

Caveats: None

Tested Software and Security Update Download Locations:

Affected Software:
•

Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 – Download the update
•

Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 and Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 – Download the update
•

Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition – Download the update
•

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 - Download the update
•

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based Systems and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with SP1 for Itanium-based Systems - Download the update
•

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition – Download the update

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.

Note The security updates for Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1, and Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition also apply to Windows Server 2003 R2.
Top of sectionTop of section
General Information
Executive Summary:

This update resolves a newly-discovered, publicly-reported vulnerability. The vulnerability is documented in the "Vulnerability Details" section of this bulletin.

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.

If a user is 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 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 Windows 2000 Windows XP Service Pack 1 Windows XP Service Pack 2 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1

Folder GUID Code Execution Vulnerability - CVE-2006-3281

Remote code execution

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.

Note The security updates for Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1, and Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition also apply to Windows Server 2003 R2.

Note The severity ratings for non-x86 operating system versions map to the x86 operating systems versions as follows:
•

The Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition severity rating is the same as the Windows XP Service Pack 2 severity rating.
•

The Microsoft Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based Systems severity rating is the same as the Windows Server 2003 severity rating.
•

The Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with SP1 for Itanium-based Systems severity rating is the same as the Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 severity rating.
•

The Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition severity rating is the same as the Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 severity rating.

Vulnerability Details

Folder GUID Code Execution Vulnerability - CVE-2006-3281:

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Windows Explorer because of the way that Windows Explorer handles Drag and Drop events. An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by constructing a malicious Web page that could potentially allow an attacker to save a file on the user’s system if a user visited a malicious Web site or viewed a malicious e-mail message. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability

Mitigating Factors for Folder GUID Code Execution Vulnerability - CVE-2006-3281:
•

Firewall best practices and standard default firewall configurations can help protect networks from attacks that originate outside the enterprise perimeter. Best practices recommend that systems that are connected to the Internet have a minimal number of ports exposed.
•

In a Web-based attack scenario, 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 malicious 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.
•

The Restricted sites zone helps reduce attacks that could try to exploit this vulnerability by preventing Active Scripting and ActiveX controls from being used when reading HTML e-mail. However, if a user clicks on a link within an e-mail they could still be vulnerable to this issue through the Web-based attack scenario described previously.

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 vulnerability could not be exploited automatically through e-mail. For an attack to be successful a user must open an attachment or click on a link that is sent in an e-mail message.
Obtaining Other Security Updates:

Updates for other security issues are available at the following locations:
•

Security updates are available in 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 (August 8, 2006): Bulletin published

[***** End Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-045 (921398) *****]
_______________________________________________________________________________

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
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National Laboratory in Livermore, California. CIAC is also a founding
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