Signature Detail

HTTP: Microsoft Windows Hyperlink Buffer Overflow

A buffer overflow exists in the Microsoft Windows system library used to handle hyperlink objects. An unchecked buffer in the Microsoft Object Library is vulnerable to attack when malformed hyperlinks are processed when a user clicks on a hyperlink in a browser or in HTML-rendered email. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute code with the privileges of the currently logged in user. In a simple attack case, the attacker can terminate the application that is using the ActiveX hyperlink library. In a sophisticated attack, he can inject arbitrary code into the target. The behaviour of the target is dependent on the nature of the malicious code. The exploit executes with the privileges of the currently logged in user. If this account has elevated privileges, an attacker may take control of the target system.

Extended Description

The Microsoft Windows Hyperlink Object Library is reported prone to a buffer overflow vulnerability. An attacker may exploit this condition to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable computer, which may grant unauthorized access to the computer or lead to privilege escalation. It is reported that issue presents itself when a user follows a malformed link specially crafted by an attacker, however, other attack vectors also exist to exploit this vulnerability. Specifically, an application that employs the affected library by accepting and supplying parameters to the library may allow an attacker to exploit this vulnerability remotely and without user interaction. Local attacker vectors exist to exploit this vulnerability as well. Reportedly, an attacker with local interactive access to a vulnerable computer may pass a malicious payload to an application that supplies parameters to the affected library.

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 98
• Microsoft Windows 98SE
• Microsoft Windows ME
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition Itanium
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition Itanium
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition
• 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
• 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
• Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition SP1
• Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition SP2
• Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
• Nortel Networks IP softphone 2050
• Nortel Networks Mobile Voice Client 2050
• Nortel Networks Optivity Telephony Manager (OTM)
• Nortel Networks Symposium Call Center Server (SCCS)
• Nortel Networks Symposium Express Call Center (SECC)

References

• BugTraq: 12479
• CVE: CVE-2005-0057