__________________________________________________________ The U.S. Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Capability ___ __ __ _ ___ / | /_\ / \___ __|__ / \ \___ __________________________________________________________ INFORMATION BULLETIN Microsoft FrontPage SmartHTML Interpreter Vulnerability [Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-053] September 26, 2002 18:00 GMT Number M-129 ______________________________________________________________________________ PROBLEM: The SmartHTML Interpreter (shtml.dll) is part of the FrontPage Server Extensions (FPSE), and provides support for web forms and other FrontPage-based dynamic content. The interpreter contains a flaw that could be exposed when processing a request for a particular type of web file, if the request had certain specific characteristics. PLATFORM: Microsoft Windows 2000 (shipped FPSE 2000) Microsoft Windows XP (shipped FPSE 2000) Microsoft Windows NT AFFECTED Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions (FPSE) 2000 SOFTWARE: Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions (FPSE) 2002 DAMAGE: On FrontPage Server Extensions 2000, such a request could allow a denial of service attack. On FrontPage Server Extensions 2002, the same type of request could cause a buffer overrun. SOLUTION: Apply available patch. ______________________________________________________________________________ VULNERABILITY The risk is MEDIUM. The most serious issue could allow an ASSESSMENT: attacker to cause a buffer overrun and potentially run code of his/her choice. ______________________________________________________________________________ LINKS: CIAC BULLETIN: http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/m-129.shtml ORIGINAL BULLETIN: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url= /technet/security/bulletin/MS02-053.asp PATCHES: See the Patches section in Microsoft's security bulletin. ______________________________________________________________________________ [***** Start Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-053 *****] Originally posted: September 25, 2002 Summary Who should read this bulletin: Web site administrators using Microsoft® FrontPage Server Extensions Impact of vulnerability: Buffer overrun or denial of service Maximum Severity Rating: Critical Recommendation: Web site administrators should apply the patch or ensure that the SmartHTML Interpreter is not available on the server. Affected Software: Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions 2000 Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions 2002 Microsoft Windows 2000 (shipped FPSE 2000) Microsoft Windows XP (shipped FPSE 2000) Technical details Technical description: The SmartHTML Interpreter (shtml.dll) is part of the FrontPage Server Extensions (FPSE), and provides support for web forms and other FrontPage-based dynamic content. The interpreter contains a flaw that could be exposed when processing a request for a particular type of web file, if the request had certain specific characteristics. This flaw affects the two versions of FrontPage Server Extensions differently. On FrontPage Server Extensions 2000, such a request would cause the interpreter to consume most or all CPU availability until the web service was restarted. An attacker could use this vulnerability to conduct a denial of service attack against an affected web server. On FrontPage Server Extensions 2002, the same type of request could cause a buffer overrun, potentially allowing an attacker to run code of his choice. Mitigating factors: The IIS Lockdown Tool, if used to configure a static web server, disables the SmartHTML Interpreter. Servers on which this has been done could not be affected by the vulnerability. FrontPage Server Extensions install on IIS 4.0, 5.0 and 5.1 by default, but can be uninstalled if desired. Servers on which this has been done could not be affected by the vulnerability. Severity Rating: Internet Servers Intranet Servers Client Systems FrontPage Server Critical Moderate None Extensions 2000 FrontPage Server Critical Moderate None Extensions 2002 The above assessment is based on the types of systems affected by the vulnerability, their typical deployment patterns, and the effect that exploiting the vulnerability would have on them. Vulnerability identifier: CAN-2002-0692 Tested Versions: Microsoft tested FrontPage Server Extensions 2000 and 2002 to assess whether they are affected by these vulnerabilities. Previous versions are no longer supported, and may or may not be affected by these vulnerabilities. Patch availability Download locations for this patch: Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions 2002 for all platforms http://download.microsoft.com/download/FrontPage2002/fpse1002/1/ W98NT42KMeXP/EN-US/fpse1002.exe Microsoft FrontPage Server Extension 2000 for NT4 http://download.microsoft.com/download/fp2000fd2000/Patch/1/ W9XNT4Me/EN-US/fpse0901.exe Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions 2000 for Windows XP - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=42995 - Windows Update http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/R1092/v31site/x86/w98/en/thanksstart.htm Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions 2000 for Windows 2000 - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=42954 - Windows Update http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/R1092/v31site/x86/w98/en/thanksstart.htm Additional information about this patch Installation platforms: This patch can be installed on: FrontPage Server Extensions 2002: The patch can be applied on all platforms which support FrontPage Server Extensions 2002. FrontPage Server Extensions 2000: The patches can be applied on the following systems running FrontPage Server Extensions 2000 - Windows XP, Windows 2000, and NT4. Inclusion in future service packs: The fix for this issue will be included in Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP SP2 and any future service packs for FPSE 2002. Reboot needed: Yes Patch can be uninstalled: FrontPage Server Extensions 2000 patches on Windows 2000 and Windows XP can be uninstalled. FrontPage Server Extensions 2000 patches for NT4 cannot be uninstalled. FrontPage Server Extensions 2002 patches cannot be uninstalled. Superseded patches: None. Verifying patch installation: Users who are applying the patch on Windows 2000 or Windows XP should refer to Q324096 Users who are applying the patch for FrontPage Server Extensions 2000 please refer to Knoweldege Base article Q329085 Users who are applying the patch for FrontPage Server Extensions 2002 please refer to Knoweldege Base article Q329086 Caveats: Users running FrontPage Server Extensions 2002 on any supported platform who have not applied the latest update will need to apply the update before installing this patch. To learn more about the update, please read Q317296. To go directly to the FrontPage Server Extensions 2002 Update, click here. Localization: Localized versions of this patch are available at the locations discussed in "Patch Availability". Obtaining other security patches: Patches for other security issues are available from the following locations: Security patches are available from the Microsoft Download Center, and can be most easily found by doing a keyword search for "security_patch". Patches for consumer platforms are available from the WindowsUpdate web site. Other information: Acknowledgments Microsoft thanks Maninder Bharadwaj of Digital Defense Services part of Digital GlobalSoft Ltd. for reporting this issue to us and working with us to protect customers. Support: Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q324096 discusses this issue and will be available approximately 24 hours after the release of this bulletin. Knowledge Base articles can be found on the Microsoft Online Support web site. Technical support is available from Microsoft Product Support Services. There is no charge for support calls associated with security patches. Security Resources: The Microsoft TechNet Security Web Site provides additional information about security in Microsoft products. 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 (September 25, 2002): Bulletin Created. V1.1 (September 26, 2002): Bulletin updated to add URL's for Windows XP and Windows 2000 patches on the Microsoft Download Center [***** End Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-053 *****] _______________________________________________________________________________ CIAC wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Microsoft Corporation 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 Institutes of Health (NIH). CIAC is located at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California. CIAC is also a founding member of FIRST, the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams, a global organization established to foster cooperation and coordination among computer security teams worldwide. CIAC services are available to DOE, DOE contractors, and the NIH. CIAC can be contacted at: Voice: +1 925-422-8193 (7x24) FAX: +1 925-423-8002 STU-III: +1 925-423-2604 E-mail: ciac@ciac.org Previous CIAC notices, anti-virus software, and other information are available from the CIAC Computer Security Archive. World Wide Web: http://www.ciac.org/ Anonymous FTP: ftp.ciac.org PLEASE NOTE: Many users outside of the DOE, ESnet, and NIH computing communities receive CIAC bulletins. If you are not part of these communities, please contact your agency's response team to report incidents. Your agency's team will coordinate with CIAC. The Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST) is a world-wide organization. A list of FIRST member organizations and their constituencies can be obtained via WWW at http://www.first.org/. This document was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor the University of California nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or favoring by the United States Government or the University of California. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or the University of California, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes. 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