Microsoft Internet Explorer May Automatically Execute Certain E-mail Attachments
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SecurityTracker Alert ID: 1001197
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SecurityTracker URL: http://securitytracker.com/id?1001197
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CVE Reference: CVE-2001-0154
(Links to External Site)
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Updated: Jan 22 2008
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Original Entry Date: Mar 30 2001
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Impact: Execution of arbitrary code via network
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Fix Available: Yes
Vendor Confirmed: Yes
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Advisory: Microsoft Security Bulletin
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Version(s): 5.01 (except with Service Pack 2), 5.5
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Description: Microsoft issued a security bulletin (MS01-020) announcing that, when rendering HTML-based e-mail messages that have incorrect MIME headers, Microsoft Internet Explorer may execute arbitrary code contained in an attachment to the email.
There is a flaw in Internet Explorer's processing of certain "unusual" MIME types. This vulnerability enables an attacker to create
an HTML-based email containing a header with one of the certain unusual MIME types and containing an executable attachment such
that the Internet Explorer browser will automatically execute the attachment when processing the message.
The vendor notes that
the vulnerability cannot be exploited if the "File Downloads" setting has been expressly disabled in the Security Zone in which
the e-mail is rendered.
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Impact: A remote attacker could send a specially crafted HTML-based e-mail message containing a malicious executable that will be automatically
executed by Internet Explorer when a recipient opens the e-mail for reading (if the user's default browser is Internet Explorer).
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Solution: The vendor has released a patch.
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Vendor URL: www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-020.asp (Links to External Site)
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Cause: State error
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Underlying OS: Windows (Any)
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Reported By: Microsoft Product Security <secnotif@MICROSOFT.COM>
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Message History:
This archive entry has one or more follow-up message(s) listed below.
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Source Message Contents
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Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 19:00:21 -0800
From: Microsoft Product Security <secnotif@MICROSOFT.COM>
Subject: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS01-020
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The following is a Security Bulletin from the Microsoft Product Security
Notification Service.
Please do not reply to this message, as it was sent from an unattended
mailbox.
********************************
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Incorrect MIME Header Can Cause IE to Execute E-mail
Attachment
Date: 29 March 2001
Software: Microsoft Internet Explorer
Impact: Run code of attacker's choice.
Bulletin: MS01-020
Microsoft encourages customers to review the Security Bulletin
at: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-020.asp.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Issue:
======
Because HTML e-mails are simply web pages, IE can render them and
open
binary attachments in a way that is appropriate to their MIME types.
However, a flaw exists in the type of processing that is specified
for
certain unusual MIME types. If an attacker created an HTML e-mail
containing an executable attachment, then modified the MIME header
information to specify that the attachment was one of the unusual
MIME
types that IE handles incorrectly, IE would launch the attachment
automatically when it rendered the e-mail.
An attacker could use this vulnerability in either of two scenarios.
She could host an affected HTML e-mail on a web site and try to
persuade another user to visit it, at which point script on a web
page
could open the mail and initiate the executable. Alternatively, she
could send the HTML mail directly to the user. In either case, the
executable attachment, if it ran, would be limited only by user's
permissions on the system.
Mitigating Factors:
====================
The vulnerability could not be exploited if File Downloads have been
disabled in the Security Zone in which the e-mail is rendered. This
is
not a default setting in any zone, however.
Patch Availability:
===================
- A patch is available to fix this vulnerability. Please read the
Security Bulletin
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms01-020.asp
for information on obtaining this patch.
Acknowledgment:
===============
- Juan Carlos Cuartango (http://www.kriptopolis.com)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
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