[mso] Re: FW: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-037: Flaw in Visual Basic for Applications Could Allow Arbitrary Code Execution(822715)
- From: "McDonald, Christine, Ms, DCAA" <Christine.McDonald@xxxxxxxx>
- To: <mso@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2003 17:07:31 -0500
Greg, thanks for the article, it was very informative. I do have a
question on the updates.=20
My parents are your typical end users, they don't want to know how it
works, they just want to turn it on and use it. They are on dial-up.
I've got her regularly updating Norton now, so once I get her system
completely patched, I want to get her on a regular schedule to check for
updates weekly, using the automatic update function in Windows XP.
However, I do notice, when I check for updates, that there are some
recommended, not critical updates, that may not really apply, I know
when I scan my system it recommends patches for MS Exchange which I
don't use, etc. So, my question is, if she has it scan her system and
she makes all the critical updates, can she just not do the recommended
and driver updates if she's not experiencing any problems? She lives in
another state, so I can't run across town to help her, I can always do
the recommended updates when I do get up to see her.
Thanks,
Christine McDonald
Technical Specialist
Western Regional Office
-----Original Message-----
From: Greg Chapman [mailto:greg@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]=20
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 2:01 PM
To: mso@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; Pat_cote@xxxxxxxx
Subject: [mso] FW: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-037: Flaw in Visual
Basic for Applications Could Allow Arbitrary Code Execution(822715)
Folks,
When the new patches become available, you gotta change your schedules
and get them on. This message from MS Security is announcing a critical
patch that has just become available. This flaw, while critical, appears
to be one in which you'll have to open a document carrying the exploit
so it shouldn't auto-execute in your mail reader. However, remember the
rules for handling unexpected attachments, patch your systems and maybe
take a read of
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?ID=3D218
That is all!
Greg Chapman
http://www.mousetrax.com
"Counting in binary is as easy as 01, 10, 11!
With thinking this clear, is coding really a good idea?"
-----Original Message-----
From: Microsoft
[mailto:0_51915_7615CB6F-616C-D111-9D3F-0000F84121EB_US@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
os
oft.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 4:59 PM
To: greg@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-037: Flaw in Visual Basic for
Applications Could Allow Arbitrary Code Execution(822715)
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Flaw in Visual Basic for Applications Could Allow
Arbitrary Code Execution (822715)
Date: 03 September 2003
Affected Software:
Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications SDK 5.0
Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications SDK 6.0
Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications SDK 6.2
Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications SDK 6.3
Products which include the affected software:
Microsoft Access 97
Microsoft Access 2000
Microsoft Access 2002
Microsoft Excel 97
Microsoft Excel 2000
Microsoft Excel 2002
Microsoft PowerPoint 97
Microsoft PowerPoint 2000
Microsoft PowerPoint 2002
Microsoft Project 2000
Microsoft Project 2002
Microsoft Publisher 2002
Microsoft Visio 2000
Microsoft Visio 2002
Microsoft Word 97
Microsoft Word 98(J)
Microsoft Word 2000
Microsoft Word 2002
Microsoft Works Suite 2001
Microsoft Works Suite 2002
Microsoft Works Suite 2003
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains 7.5
Microsoft Business Solutions Dynamics 6.0
Microsoft Business Solutions Dynamics 7.0
Microsoft Business Solutions eEnterprise 6.0
Microsoft Business Solutions eEnterprise 7.0
Microsoft Business Solutions Solomon 4.5
Microsoft Business Solutions Solomon 5.0
Microsoft Business Solutions Solomon 5.5
Impact: Run code of attackers choice
Max Risk: Critical
Bulletin: MS03-037
Microsoft encourages customers to review the Security Bulletins
at: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-037.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/security/security_bulletins/ms03-037.asp
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Issue:
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Microsoft VBA is a development technology for developing client desktop
packaged applications and integrating them with existing data and
systems. Microsoft VBA is based on the Microsoft Visual Basic
development system. Microsoft Office products include VBA and make use
of VBA to perform certain functions. VBA can also be used to build
customized applications based around an existing host application.
A flaw exists in the way VBA checks document properties passed to it
when a document is opened by the host application. A buffer overrun
exists which if exploited successfully could allow an attacker to
execute code of their choice in the context of the logged on user.
In order for an attack to be successful, a user would have to open a
specially crafted document sent to them by an attacker. This document
could be any type of document that supports VBA, such as a Word
document, Excel spreadsheet, PowerPoint presentation. In the case where
Microsoft Word is being used as the HTML e-mail editor for Microsoft
Outlook, this document could be an e-mail, however the user would need
to reply to, or forward the mail message in order for the vulnerability
to be exploited.
Mitigating Factors:
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
- -The user must open a document sent to them by an attacker in order
for this vulnerability to be exploited.
- -When Microsoft Word is being used as the HTML e-mail editor in
Outlook, a user would need to reply to or forward a malicious e- mail
document sent to them in order for this vulnerability to be exploited.
- -An attacker's code could only run with the same rights as the logged
on user. The specific privileges the attacker could gain through this
vulnerability would therefore depend on the privileges granted to the
user. Any limitations on a user's account, such as those applied through
Group Policies, would also limit the actions of any arbitrary code
executed by this vulnerability.
Risk Rating:
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
- Critical
Patch Availability:
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
- A patch is available to fix this vulnerability. Please read the
Security Bulletins at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms03-037.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/security/security_bulletins/ms03-037.asp
for information on obtaining this patch.
Acknowledgment:
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
- eEye Digital Security, http://www.eeye.com
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
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