Vulnerability Note VU#361968

Microsoft XML Core Services XMLDOM substringData() buffer overflow

Overview

Microsoft XML Core Services contains an unspecified memory corruption vulnerability, which may allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system.

I. Description

Microsoft XML Core Services (MSXML) allow developers who use JScript, Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript), and Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0 to create XML-based applications. MSXML includes several ActiveX controls to allow XML support in Internet Explorer and other applications.

The MSXML XMLDOM object contains a buffer overflow vulnerability in the substringData() method.

II. Impact

By convincing a user to view a specially crafted HTML document (e.g., a web page or an HTML email message or attachment), an attacker may be able to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user.

III. Solution

Apply an update

This issue is addressed by Microsoft Security Bulletin MS07-042. This update provides updated versions of MSXML.

Disable ActiveX and Active Scripting

Disabling ActiveX controls and Active Scripting in the Internet Zone (or any zone used by an attacker) appears to prevent exploitation of this and other ActiveX vulnerabilities. Instructions for disabling ActiveX in the Internet Zone can be found in the "Securing Your Web Browser" document.�

Systems Affected

Vendor	Status	Date Updated
Microsoft Corporation	Vulnerable	14-Aug-2007

References

http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/securing_browser/#Internet_Explorer
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms07-042.mspx
http://www.iss.net/threats/274.html
http://secunia.com/advisories/26447/
http://labs.idefense.com/intelligence/vulnerabilities/display.php?id=576
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms755744.aspx
http://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-07-048.html

Credit

Thanks to Microsft for reporting this vulnerability, who in turn credit anonymous researchers working with Verisign iDefense VCP and Zero Day Initiative.

This document was written by Will Dormann.

Other Information

Date Public	08/14/2007
Date First Published	08/14/2007 02:27:31 PM
Date Last Updated	08/15/2007
CERT Advisory
CVE Name	CVE-2007-2223
US-CERT Technical Alerts
Metric	24.10
Document Revision	8

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Produced 2007 by US-CERT, a government organization
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