Microsoft Windows HTML Help could allow execution of code
| win-htmlhelp-execute-code (16586) |  High Risk |
Description:
Microsoft Windows could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system, caused by a vulnerability in HTML Help. HTML Help fails to properly validate user-supplied input. A remote attacker could send a specially-crafted email message that contains a specially-crafted link to a vulnerable system, which would allow the attacker to gain complete control over the affected system, with the privileges of the victim, once the link is clicked. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by hosting the malicious file on a Web site or by sending it to a victim as an HTML email and persuading the victim to click on the link contained within the email.
Consequences:
Gain Access
Remedy:
Apply the appropriate patch for your system, as listed in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-026. See References.
Note: Microsoft originally provided a patch for this vulnerability inMS04-023, but it was superseded by the patch released with MS05-026.
References:
- BugTraq Mailing List, Wed Jul 14 2004 - 00:36:31 CDT: HtmlHelp - .CHM File Heap Overflow.
- CIAC Information Bulletin 0-182: Microsoft Vulnerability in HTML Help Could Allow Code Execution.
- Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-023: Vulnerability in HTML Help Could Allow Code Execution (840315).
- Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-026: Vulnerability in HTML Help Could Allow Remote Code Execution (896358).
- BID-10705: Microsoft Windows HTML Help Heap Overflow Vulnerability
- CVE-2004-0201: Heap-based buffer overflow in the HtmlHelp program (hh.exe) in HTML Help for Microsoft Windows 98, Me, NT 4.0, 2000, XP, and Server 2003 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a .CHM file with a large length field, a different vulnerability than CVE-2003-1041.
- US-CERT VU#920060: Microsoft Windows HTML Help component fails to properly validate input data
Platforms Affected:
- Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4
- Microsoft Windows 2000 SP3
- Microsoft Windows 2000 SP2
- Microsoft Windows 2003 Server x64
- Microsoft Windows 2003 Server SP1 x64
- Microsoft Windows 2003 Server
- Microsoft Windows 98
- Microsoft Windows 98SE
- Microsoft Windows Me
- Microsoft Windows XP 2003 x64
- Microsoft Windows XP
- Microsoft Windows XP SP1
Reported:
Jul 13, 2004
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