Vulnerability Note VU#922708

Microsoft Windows Shell fails to handle shortcut files properly

Overview

Microsoft Windows Shell does not properly handle some shortcut files and may permit arbitrary code execution when a specially-crafted file is opened.

I. Description

Microsoft Windows supports files that point to another file, called "shortcut" files. These files have the .lnk extension, and may have properties that are passed to the target program or file.

Windows does not properly handle some properties on shortcut files and may be vulnerable to a specially-crafted shortcut file format. An attacker that has crafted such a shortcut file and that has convinced a user to open the file may be able to execute arbitrary code on the system. This file may be opened from an email message or a web link.

The arbitrary code is executed with the user's privileges, so if an administrative user has opened the file, the attacker may be able to take complete control of the system.

II. Impact

A remote, unauthenticated attacker may be able to execute arbitrary code and take complete control of the system.

III. Solution

Apply an update

Please see Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-049 for more information on fixes, workarounds, and updates.

Systems Affected

Vendor	Status	Date Notified	Date Updated
Microsoft Corporation	Vulnerable	11-Oct-2005

References

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS05-049.mspx

Credit

Microsoft reported this vulnerability, and in turn thank Cesar Cerrudo of Argeniss for information on the issue.

This document was written by Ken MacInnis.

Other Information

Date Public:	2005-10-11
Date First Published:	2005-10-11
Date Last Updated:	2005-10-11
CERT Advisory:
CVE-ID(s):	CAN-2005-2122
NVD-ID(s):	CAN-2005-2122
US-CERT Technical Alerts:
Metric:	5.29
Document Revision:	7

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Produced 2005 by US-CERT, a government organization
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