__________________________________________________________ The U.S. Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Capability ___ __ __ _ ___ / | /_\ / \___ __|__ / \ \___ __________________________________________________________ INFORMATION BULLETIN Unchecked Buffer in MDAC Function Vulnerability [Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-040] August 1, 2002 17:00 GMT Number M-105 [Revised 21 Aug 2003] ______________________________________________________________________________ PROBLEM: A vulnerability has been identified in the Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC). The MDAC functions underlying OpenRowSet contain an unchecked buffer. PLATFORM: Microsoft® SQL Server™ 7.0 or 2000 AFFECTED VERSIONS: Microsoft Data Access Components 2.5 Microsoft Data Access Components 2.6 Microsoft Data Access Components 2.7 DAMAGE: An overrun of the buffer could occur if an attacker submitted a database query containing a specially malformed parameter within a call to OpenRowSet resulting in the ability to run code of attacker's choice. SOLUTION: Apply available patches. ______________________________________________________________________________ VULNERABILITY The risk is MEDIUM. Even though MDAC ships as part of all ASSESSMENT: versions of Windows, the vulnerability can only be exploited on SQL Servers. Customers who are not using SQL Server do not need to take action, despite the fact that MDAC may be installed on their systems. ______________________________________________________________________________ LINKS: CIAC BULLETIN: http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/m-105.shtml ORIGINAL BULLETIN: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/ default.asp?url=/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-040.asp PATCHES: MDAC 2.5: http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/Release.asp?ReleaseID=41076 MDAC 2.6: http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/Release.asp?ReleaseID=41077 MDAC 2.7: http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/Release.asp?ReleaseID=41072 ______________________________________________________________________________ Revision History: 8/21/03 - Updated to reflect bulletin affects all versions of Windows and not just Microsoft SQL Server. [***** Start Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-040 *****] Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-040 Unchecked Buffer in MDAC Function Could Enable System Compromise (Q326573) Originally posted: July 31, 2002 Updated: August 20, 2003 Summary Who should read this bulletin: Customers using Microsoft® Windows®. Impact of vulnerability: Run code of the attacker’s choice. Maximum Severity Rating: Critical Recommendation: Users should install the security patch immediately. Affected Software: * Microsoft Data Access Components 2.5 * Microsoft Data Access Components 2.6 * Microsoft Data Access Components 2.7 Technical details Technical description: Subsequent to the release of this bulletin, it was determined that the vulnerability addressed is not with the OpenRowSet command (which is a Microsoft SQL Server command) but rather that the vulnerability is with the underlying MDAC component Open Database Connectivity (ODBC), which is present in all versions of Windows. Additionally, the original patch released with this did not install correctly on some systems because of a flaw in the way that Microsoft Windows Installer updated the System File Protection cache. The bulletin has been updated to include this additional information and to direct users to an updated patch. Note: The patch for this security bulletin has been superceded by the patch in MS03-033. Customers who are seeking the patch for MS02-040 should instead install the patch for MS03-033. MDAC is a collection of components that are used to provide database connectivity on Windows platforms. MDAC is a ubiquitous technology, and it is likely to be present on most Windows systems: * By default, MDAC is included as part of Microsoft Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Millennium Edition. * MDAC is available for download as a stand-alone technology. * MDAC is either included in or installed by a number of other products and technologies. For example, MDAC is included in the Microsoft Windows NT® 4.0 Option Pack, as part of Microsoft Access, and as part of SQL Server. Some MDAC components are also present as part of Microsoft Internet Explorer even if MDAC itself is not installed. MDAC provides the underlying functionality for a number of database operations, such as connecting to remote databases and returning data to a client. Specifically, it is the MDAC component known as Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) that provides this functionality. A security vulnerability results because one of the ODBC functions in MDAC that is used to connect to data sources contains an unchecked buffer. An attacker could seek to exploit the vulnerability by constructing a Web page that, when visited by the user, could execute code of the attacker's choice with the user's privileges. The Web page could be hosted on a Web site or sent directly to the user in an e-mail message. In the case of a system that is running SQL Server, an attacker could seek to exploit this vulnerability by using the Transact-SQL OpenRowSet command. An attacker who submits a database query that contains a specially-malformed parameter within a call to OpenRowSet could overrun the buffer, either to cause the computer that is running SQL Server to fail or to cause the computer that is running SQL Server to take actions that are dictated by the attacker. Mitigating factors: * Users who read e-mail messages as plain text would have to take an action before an attacker could exploit the vulnerability to be exploited. * Systems that are configured to disable active scripting in Internet Explorer are not affected by this vulnerability. * In the Web-based attack scenario, a user would need to visit a malicious web site under the control of an attacker. An attacker would have no way to force users to visit a malicious Web site outside the HTML e-mail vector. Instead, an attacker would need to lure them there, typically by getting the user to click a link that took them to the attacker's site. * The privileges that are gained through a successful attack would be equal to those of the application under which ODBC is running. In most cases, an attacker would gain only the same level of privileges as the logged on user. * By default, Outlook Express 6.0 and Outlook 2002 open HTML mail in the Restricted Sites Zone. In addition, Outlook 98 and 2000 open HTML mail in the Restricted Sites Zone if the Outlook Email Security Update has been installed. Customers who use any of these products would be at no risk from an e-mail borne attack that attempted to exploit this vulnerability unless the user clicked a malicious link in the email. Severity Rating: MDAC 2.5 Critical MDAC 2.6 Critical MDAC 2.7 Critical The above assessment is based on the types of systems that are affected by the vulnerability, their typical deployment patterns, and the effect that exploiting the vulnerability would have on them. Vulnerability identifier: CVE-CAN-2002-0695 Tested Versions: Microsoft tested MDAC 2.5, 2.6, and 2.7 to assess whether they are affected by these vulnerabilities. Previous versions are no longer supported and may or may not be affected by these vulnerabilities. Patch availability Download locations for this patch This patch has been superceded by the patch in MS03-033. Users should apply MS03-033, which also contains a fix for an additional security vulnerability. Please refer to the "Patch Availability" section of MS03-033 for the download location of that patch. Additional information about this patch Installation platforms: Please refer to the "Additional Information" section of MS03-033 for installation platform information for this patch. Inclusion in future service packs: The fix for this issue will be included in MDAC 2.5 Service Pack 5 and in MDAC 2.7 Service Pack 2. The fix is included in MDAC 2.8. Reboot needed: Yes Patch can be uninstalled: No Superseded patches: None Verifying patch installation: Microsoft Knowledge Base article 326573 provides a file manifest that can be used to verify the patch installation. Caveats: This patch is superseded by the security patch for MS03-033. Users should apply the patch that is included in MS03-033. Localization: Localized versions of this patch are available at the locations that are discussed in the "Patch Availability" section of this bulletin. Obtaining other security patches: Patches for other security issues are available from the following locations: * Security patches are available from the Microsoft Download Center, and can be most easily found by doing a keyword search for "security_patch". * Patches for consumer platforms are available from the WindowsUpdate web site Other information: Acknowledgments Microsoft thanks David Litchfield of Next Generation Security Software Ltd. for reporting this issue to us and working with us to protect customers. Support: * Microsoft Knowledge Base article 326573 discusses this issue and will be available approximately 24 hours after the release of this bulletin. Knowledge Base articles can be found on the Microsoft Online Support web site. * Technical support is available from Microsoft Product Support Services. There is no charge for support calls associated with security patches. Security Resources: The Microsoft TechNet Security Web Site provides additional information about security in Microsoft products. Disclaimer: The information provided in the Microsoft Knowledge Base is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Microsoft disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event shall Microsoft Corporation or its suppliers be liable for any damages whatsoever including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, loss of business profits or special damages, even if Microsoft Corporation or its suppliers have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages so the foregoing limitation may not apply. Revisions: * V1.0 (July 31, 2002): Bulletin Created. * V2.0 (August 20, 2003): Updated to reflect bulletin affects all versions of Windows and not just Microsoft SQL Server. [***** End Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-040 *****] _______________________________________________________________________________ CIAC wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Microsoft for the information contained in this bulletin. _______________________________________________________________________________ CIAC, the Computer Incident Advisory Capability, is the computer security incident response team for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the emergency backup response team for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). CIAC is located at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California. CIAC is also a founding member of FIRST, the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams, a global organization established to foster cooperation and coordination among computer security teams worldwide. CIAC services are available to DOE, DOE contractors, and the NIH. CIAC can be contacted at: Voice: +1 925-422-8193 (7x24) FAX: +1 925-423-8002 STU-III: +1 925-423-2604 E-mail: ciac@ciac.org Previous CIAC notices, anti-virus software, and other information are available from the CIAC Computer Security Archive. World Wide Web: http://www.ciac.org/ Anonymous FTP: ftp.ciac.org PLEASE NOTE: Many users outside of the DOE, ESnet, and NIH computing communities receive CIAC bulletins. If you are not part of these communities, please contact your agency's response team to report incidents. Your agency's team will coordinate with CIAC. The Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST) is a world-wide organization. A list of FIRST member organizations and their constituencies can be obtained via WWW at http://www.first.org/. This document was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor the University of California nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or favoring by the United States Government or the University of California. 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