Signature Detail

HTTP: Windows Help File Download

This signature detects Microsoft Windows Help Files (.hlp) being downloaded using HTTP, which is not normally done over the Internet. Attackers can exploit vulnerabilities in the winhlp32.exe help file parser to create malicious help files. When a user downloads these help files, attackers can take control of the user's computer. Note: Because this signature detects only help file downloads, it can also trigger on benign help files.

Extended Description

Microsoft Windows is prone to a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability. This issue exists in 'winhlp32.exe' and is exposed when a malformed phrase compressed Windows Help file (.hlp) is processed by the program. Successful exploitation may allow execution of arbitrary code in the context of the user that opens the malicious Help file. The Help file may originate from an external or untrusted source, so this vulnerability is considered remote in nature.

Affected Products

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP1
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP2
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP3
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP4
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server SP1
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server SP2
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server SP3
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server SP4
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP1
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP2
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP3
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP4
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP1
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP2
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP3
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP4
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
• Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP1
• Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP2
• Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP3
• Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP4
• Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP5
• Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP6
• Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP6a
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP1
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP2
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP3
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP4
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP5
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP6
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP6a
• Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP1
• Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP2
• Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP3
• Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP4
• Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP5
• Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP6
• Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP6a
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP1
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP2
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP3
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP4
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP5
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP6
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP6a
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition SP1 Beta 1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition Itanium SP1 Beta 1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition Itanium
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition SP1 Beta 1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition Itanium SP1 Beta 1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition Itanium
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition SP1 Beta 1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Web Edition SP1 Beta 1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Web Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition SP1
• Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition Version 2003 SP1
• Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition Version 2003
• Microsoft Windows XP Home SP1
• Microsoft Windows XP Home SP2
• Microsoft Windows XP Home
• Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition SP1
• Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition SP2
• Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP1
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional

References

• BugTraq: 12092
• CVE: CVE-2006-4138
• CVE: CVE-2004-1361
• CVE: CVE-2004-1306