SecurityvulnsSECURITYVULNS:DOC:528Security Bulletin (MS00-055)
Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS00-055)
Patch Available for "Scriptlet Rendering" Vulnerability
Originally Posted: August 09, 2000
Summary
Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates two security
vulnerabilities in Microsoft(r) Internet Explorer. The
vulnerabilities could allow a malicious web site operator to read -
but not add, change, or delete - files on the computer of a visiting
user.
As discussed in the Patch Availability section below, this patch also
provides protection against several security vulnerabilities that
have been discussed in previous security bulletins. We have delivered
a comprehensive patch in order to minimize the number of patches
customers need to apply.
Frequently asked questions regarding this vulnerability
and the patch can be found at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/fq00-055.asp
Issue
There are two vulnerabilities at issue here:
- The "Scriptlet Rendering" vulnerability. The ActiveX
control that is used to invoked scriptlets is essentially
a rendering engine for HTML. However, it will render any
file type, rather than rendering HTML files only. This
opens the door to a scenario in which a malicious web
site operator could provide bogus information consisting
of script, solely for the purpose of introducing it into
an IE system file with a known name, then use the
Scriptlet control to render the file. The net effect
would be to make the script run in the Local Computer
Zone, at which point it could access files on the user's
local file system. - A new variant of the "Frame Domain Verification"
vulnerability. As discussed in Microsoft Security Bulletin
MS00-033, two functions do not enforce proper separation
of frames in the same window that reside in different
domains. The new variant involves an additional function
with the same flaw. The net effect of the vulnerability
would be to enable a malicious web site operator to open
two frames, one in his domain and another on the user's
local file system, and enable the latter to pass information
to the former.
In order to exploit either vulnerability, a malicious web site
operator would need to know or guess the exact name and path of each
file he wanted to view. Even then, he could only view file types that
can be opened in a browser window - for instance, .txt or .doc files,
but not .exe or .dat files. If the web site were in a Zone in which
Active Scripting were disabled, neither vulnerability could be
exploited.
Affected Software Versions
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.x
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x
Patch Availability
Note: In addition to eliminating the two vulnerabilities discussed
above, this patch also protects against several previously-discussed
vulnerabilities. Customers who apply this patch will also be
protected against the vulnerabilities discussed in the following
Security Bulletins:
- Microsoft Security Bulletin MS00-033
- Microsoft Security Bulletin MS00-039
- Microsoft Security Bulletin MS00-049
In addition, for IE 5.5 systems only, this patch also eliminates the
vulnerability discussed in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS00-042.
Note: Customers who install this patch on versions other than IE
5.01, IE 5.01 SP1, or IE 5.5 may receive a message reading "This
update does not need to be installed on this system". This message is
incorrect. More information is available in KB article Q266336.
Note: Additional security patches are available at the Microsoft
Download Center
More Information
Please see the following references for more information related to
this issue.
- Frequently Asked Questions: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS00-055,
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/fq00-055.asp - Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q266336 discusses this issue
and will be available soon. - Microsoft Security Bulletin MS00-033,
Patch Available for "Frame Domain Verification", "Unauthorized
Cookie Access", and "Malformed Component Attribute"
Vulnerabilities,
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms00-033.asp - Microsoft Security Bulletin MS00-039,
Patch Available for "SSL Certificate Validation" Vulnerabilities,
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms00-039.asp - Microsoft Security Bulletin MS00-042,
Patch Available for "Active Setup Download" Vulnerability,
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms00-042.asp - Microsoft Security Bulletin MS00-049,
Patches Available for "Office HTML" and "IE Script" Security
Vulnerabilities,
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms00-049.asp - Microsoft TechNet Security web site,
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/default.asp
Obtaining Support on this Issue
This is a fully supported patch. Information on contacting Microsoft
Product Support Services is available at
http://support.microsoft.com/support/contact/default.asp.
Acknowledgments
Microsoft thanks Juan Carlos Garcia Cuartango of Spain
(www.kriptopolis.com) for reporting the "Scriptlet Rendering" issue
to us and working with us to protect customers.
Revisions
- August 09, 2000: Bulletin Created.
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Last Updated August 09, 2000