Vulnerability Note VU#716872
Microsoft Agent fails to properly handle specially crafted URLs
Overview
Microsoft Agent fails to properly handle specially crafted URLs, which may allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system
Description
Microsoft Agent is software that provides animated characters to enhance interaction with computer systems. Microsoft Agent comes with Microsoft Windows systems. Microsoft Agent functionality is exposed as an ActiveX control that can be used by web pages. Microsoft Agent fails to properly handle specially crafted URLs, which can result in memory corruption. According to public reports, exploit code is availabe for this vulnerability. |
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. The attacker could also cause the web browser to crash. |
Solution
Apply an update |
{D45FD31B-5C6E-11D1-9EC1-00C04FD7081F} {F5BE8BD2-7DE6-11D0-91FE-00C04FD701A5} {4BAC124B-78C8-11D1-B9A8-00C04FD97575} {D45FD31D-5C6E-11D1-9EC1-00C04FD7081F} {D45FD31E-5C6E-11D1-9EC1-00C04FD7081F}
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ActiveX Compatibility\{D45FD31B-5C6E-11D1-9EC1-00C04FD7081F}] "Compatibility Flags"=dword:00000400 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ActiveX Compatibility\{F5BE8BD2-7DE6-11D0-91FE-00C04FD701A5}] "Compatibility Flags"=dword:00000400 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ActiveX Compatibility\{4BAC124B-78C8-11D1-B9A8-00C04FD97575}] "Compatibility Flags"=dword:00000400 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ActiveX Compatibility\{D45FD31D-5C6E-11D1-9EC1-00C04FD7081F}] "Compatibility Flags"=dword:00000400 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ActiveX Compatibility\{D45FD31E-5C6E-11D1-9EC1-00C04FD7081F}] "Compatibility Flags"=dword:00000400 The Microsoft Agent ActiveX controls interact with the Microsoft Agent Server (AgentSvr.exe) to provide Agent functionality. The Microsoft Agent Server can be unregistered to mitigate this vulnerability by running the following command:
Disabling ActiveX controls 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 (Learn More)
Vendor | Status | Date Notified | Date Updated |
---|---|---|---|
Microsoft Corporation | Affected | - | 11 Sep 2007 |
CVSS Metrics (Learn More)
Group | Score | Vector |
---|---|---|
Base | N/A | N/A |
Temporal | N/A | N/A |
Environmental | N/A | N/A |
References
- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms07-051.mspx
- http://secunia.com/advisories/26753/
- http://labs.idefense.com/intelligence/vulnerabilities/display.php?id=592
- http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,137166-c,hackers/article.html
Credit
This vulnerability was publicly disclosed in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS07-051. Microsoft in turn credits the Vulnerability Research team of Assurent Secure Technologies, Yamata Li of Palo Alto Networks, and An anonymous researcher working with VeriSign iDefense VCP.
This document was written by Jeff Gennari.
Other Information
- CVE IDs: CVE-2007-3040
- Date Public: 11 Sep 2007
- Date First Published: 11 Sep 2007
- Date Last Updated: 14 Sep 2007
- Document Revision: 13
Feedback
If you have feedback, comments, or additional information about this vulnerability, please send us email.