Signature Detail

POP3: Microsoft Outlook Express MHTML URL Arbitrary Code Execution

This signature detects attempts to exploit a known vulnerability against Microsoft Outlook Express. Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 SP2 through Outlook Express 6 SP1 are vulnerable. A successful attack could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected system.

Extended Description

A vulnerability has been discovered in Microsoft Outlook Express when handling MHTML file and res URIs that could lead to an unexpected file being downloaded and executed. The problem occurs due to the component failing to securely handle MHTML file URIs that reference a non-existent resource. The affected Outlook Express component is used by Microsoft Internet Explorer. As a result, a victim browser user may inadvertently access a page designed to load an embedded object from a malicious location. This would effectively result in the execution of attacker-supplied code within the Local Zone. The vulnerability is present even if Microsoft Outlook has been removed as the default email client. According to Microsoft, Microsoft Internet Explorer on Windows Server 2003 is prone to attacks despite its specialized configuration. Microsoft Windows platforms running Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5SP2, 6.0, and 6.0SP1 are reported by the vendor to be affected though the issue may also be present in earlier versions of Microsoft Outlook Express.

Affected Products

• Avaya DefinityOne Media Servers
• Avaya IP600 Media Servers
• Avaya S3400 Message Application Server
• Avaya S8100 Media Servers
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0.1
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0.1 SP1
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0.1 SP2
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0.1 SP3
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 SP1
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 SP2
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1
• Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5
• Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 SP2
• Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0
• Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 SP1
• 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 2000 Server Japanese Edition
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Terminal Services SP1
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Terminal Services SP2
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Terminal Services SP3
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Terminal Services SP4
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Terminal Services
• 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 alpha
• 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 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
• 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 Version 2003 SP1
• Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition Version 2003
• Microsoft Windows XP Home SP1
• Microsoft Windows XP Home
• Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP1
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition

References

• BugTraq: 9105
• CVE: CVE-2004-0380