Microsoft Windows Help and Support Center Could Allow Remote Code Execution

Notification Type: IBM Internet Security Systems Protection Alert
Notification Date: June 14, 2010
Notification Version: 1.0
   
Name: Microsoft Windows Help and Support Center Could Allow Remote Code Execution
Public disclosure/
In the wild date:		 June 10, 2010
Aliases: MS Security Advisory 2219475
CVE: CVE-2010-1885
Description:

Vulnerability in Windows Help and Support Center Could Allow Remote Code Execution

 

ISS Coverage
Product Content Version
Proventia Network IDS
Proventia Network IPS
Proventia Network MFS
Proventia Server (Linux)
RealSecure Network
RealSecure Server Sensor
Virtual Server Protection for VMware

30.061

Proventia Desktop
Proventia Server IPS (Windows)

2535
Propagation Techniques ISS Protection Available

remote exploit

HTML_MS_HelpCenter_CMD_Exec*

*blocking by default

 14 JUN 2010

Detailed Description
Business Impact:

This vulnerability is currently unpatched and can result in remote command execution. We are not currently aware of active exploitation, but multiple proof of concept exploits have been made public. The issue is trivial to exploit and can be done so via a specially-crafted Web page.

*CVSS Base Score: 9.3
  Access Vector: Network
Access Complexity: Medium
Authentication: None
Confidentiality Impact: Complete
Integrity Impact: Complete
Availability Impact: Complete
Adjusted Temporal Score: 8.0
  Exploitability:  Proof-of-concept
Remediation Level: Work around
Report Confidence: Confirmed
Affected Products: For a full list of affected versions, see references below.
Technical Description:

The recently released vulnerability in Microsoft Help Center is due to the injection of invalid unicode characters in a specially crafted hcp request.  The hcp protocol is used to allow Microsoft Help Center information to be brought up by a web page.  In order to allow for only safe help content to be displayed the Microsoft Help Center verifies hcp requests against a white-list of known safe requests.  Including certain URL escape sequences in the hcp URL, will bypass the white-list check allowing for arbitrary script to be executed by Microsoft Help Center by additionally leveraging a cross-site-scripting vulnerability in a default Microsoft Help Center document.  This can lead to arbitrary commands being executed in the context of the current user.  This vulnerability can be exploited by creating a malicious web page and convincing the user to visit the page.  It appears that only Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows 2003 are affected.

Remediation:

 No Patch available at time of release.  See References for details.

References

XFDB: 

Microsoft: 

http://xforce.iss.net/xforce/xfdb/59267

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/2219475.mspx

Revision History

1.0

Initial publication

 

* According to the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is an "industry open standard designed to convey vulnerability severity and help to determine urgency and priority of response." IBM PROVIDES THE CVSS SCORES "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL SECURITY VULNERABILITY.
The information within this database may change without notice. Use of this information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are NO warranties, implied or otherwise, with regard to this information or its use. Any use of this information is at the user's risk. In no event shall IBM be held liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of or in connection with the use or spread of this information.

About IBM Internet Security Systems

IBM Internet Security Systems is a trusted security advisor to thousands of the world's leading businesses and governments, helping to provide pre-emptive protection for networks, desktops and servers. The IBM Proventia® integrated security platform is designed to automatically protect against both known and unknown threats, helping to keep networks up and running and shield customers from online attacks before they impact business assets. IBM Internet Security Systems products and services are based on the proactive security intelligence of its X-Force® research and development team – an unequivocal world authority in vulnerability and threat research. The IBM Internet Security Systems product line is also complemented by comprehensive Managed Security Services and Professional Security Services. For more information, visit the IBM Internet Security Systems Web site at www.iss.net or call 800-776-2362.