__________________________________________________________ The U.S. Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Capability ___ __ __ _ ___ / | /_\ / \___ __|__ / \ \___ __________________________________________________________ INFORMATION BULLETIN Microsoft Utility Manager Vulnerability [Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-019] July 14, 2004 12:00 GMT Number O-180 ______________________________________________________________________________ PROBLEM: A vulnerability exists in the way that Windows Utility Manager launches applications. Utility Manager is an accessibility utility that allows users to determine the status of accessibility programs such as Microsoft Magnifier, Narrator, or On-Screen Keyboard, and to start or stop them. By default, Utility Manager is installed and is enabled; however, it does not run by default. PLATFORM: Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 2 Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 DAMAGE: An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system, including installing programs; viewing, changing, or deleting data; or creating new accounts that have full privileges. An attacker must be able to log on to the system and then, after starting Utility Manager, run a program that sends a specially crafted message to Utility Manager to attempt to exploit the vulnerability. SOLUTION: Install the security update. ______________________________________________________________________________ VULNERABILITY The risk is MEDIUM. A local attacker could force Utility ASSESSMENT: Manager to start an application with system privileges and could take complete control of the system. ______________________________________________________________________________ LINKS: CIAC BULLETIN: http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/o-180.shtml ORIGINAL BULLETIN: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-019 http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms04- 019.mspx CVE/CAN: http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name= CAN-2004-0213 ______________________________________________________________________________ [***** Start Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-019 *****] Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-019 Vulnerability in Utility Manager Could Allow Code Execution (842526) Issued: July 13, 2004 Version: 1.0 Summary Who should read this document: Customers who use Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Impact of Vulnerability: Local Elevation of Privilege Maximum Severity Rating: Important Recommendation: Customers should install the update at the earliest opportunity. Security Update Replacement: This bulletin replaces MS03-025. See the frequently asked questions (FAQ) section of this bulletin for more information. Caveats: None Tested Software and Security Update Download Locations: Affected Software: • Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 2, Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 3, Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 – Download the update Non-Affected Software: • Microsoft Windows NT® Workstation 4.0 Service Pack 6a • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Service Pack 6a • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 6 • Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 • Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Service Pack 1 • Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2003 • Microsoft Windows Server™ 2003 • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 64-Bit Edition • Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition (SE), and Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me) The software in this list has been tested to determine if the versions are affected. Other versions either no longer include security update support or may not be affected. To determine the support lifecycle for your product and version, visit the following Microsoft Support Lifecycle Web site. Top of section General Information Executive Summary Executive Summary: This update resolves a newly-discovered, privately reported vulnerability. A privilege elevation vulnerability exists in the way that Utility Manager launches applications. A logged-on user could force Utility Manager to start an application with system privileges and could take complete control of the system. The vulnerability is documented in the Vulnerability Details section of this bulletin. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system, including installing programs; viewing, changing, or deleting data; or creating new accounts that have full privileges. We recommend that customers install the update at the earliest opportunity. Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers: **************************************************************************************** Vulnerability Identifiers Impact of Vulnerability Windows 2000 **************************************************************************************** Utility Manager Vulnerability - CAN-2004-0213 Privilege Elevation Important **************************************************************************************** This 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. Top of section Frequently asked questions (FAQ) related to this security update What updates does this release replace? This security update replaces a prior security bulletin. The security bulletin ID and operating systems that are affected are listed in the table below. **************************************************************************************** Bulletin ID Windows NT 4.0 Windows 2000 Windows XP Windows Server 2003 **************************************************************************************** MS03-025 Not Applicable Replaced Not Applicable Not Applicable **************************************************************************************** Does this update contain any other changes to functionality? Yes. In addition to the changes that are listed in the Vulnerability Details section of this bulletin, this update includes the following change in functionality. Utility Manger is no longer able to use context-sensitive help. This feature has been removed to provide greater security and to help prevent potential malicious use. Microsoft considers this to be a defense-in-depth measure that we are taking to help provide additional protection against future malicious use of Utility Manager. I'm still using Windows 2000 Service Pack 2, but extended security update support ended on June 30, 2004. However, this bulletin has a security update for this operating system version. Why is that? Windows 2000 Service Pack 2 reached the end of their life cycle as previously documented, and Microsoft extended this support to June 30, 2004. However, the end-of-life for the extended support period occurred very recently. In this case, the majority of the steps that are required to address this vulnerability were completed before June 30, 2004. Therefore, we have decided to release a security update for this operating system version as part of this security bulletin. We do not anticipate doing this for future vulnerabilities affecting this operating system version, but we reserve the right to produce updates and to make these updates available when necessary. It should be a priority for customers who have this operating system version to migrate to a supported version to prevent potential exposure to future vulnerabilities. For more information about the Windows Product Life Cycle, visit the following Microsoft Support Lifecycle Web site. For more information about the extended security update support period for this operating system version, visit the following Microsoft Product Support Services Web site. For more information, see the Windows Operating System FAQ. Can I use the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) to determine if this update is required? Yes. MBSA will determine if this update is required. For more information about MBSA, visit the MBSA Web site. Note After April 20, 2004, the Mssecure.xml file that is used by MBSA 1.1.1 and earlier versions is no longer being updated with new security bulletin data. Therefore, scans that are performed after that date with MBSA 1.1.1 or earlier will be incomplete. All users should upgrade to MBSA 1.2 because it provides more accurate security update detection and supports additional products. Users can download MBSA 1.2 from the MBSA Web site. For more information about MBSA support, visit the following Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 1.2 Q&A Web site. Can I use Systems Management Server (SMS) to determine if this update is required? Yes. SMS can help detect and deploy this security update. For information about SMS, visit the SMS Web site. Top of section Vulnerability Details Utility Manager Vulnerability - CAN-2004-0213: A privilege elevation vulnerability exists in the way that Utility Manager launches applications. A logged-on user could force Utility Manager to start an application with system privileges and could take complete control of the system. Mitigating Factors for Utility Manager Vulnerability - CAN-2004-0213: • An attacker must have valid logon credentials and be able to logon locally to exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability could not be exploited remotely or by anonymous users. • Windows NT 4.0, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 are not affected by this vulnerability. Windows NT 4.0 does not implement Utility Manager. • The Windows 2000 Hardening Guide recommends disabling the Utility Manger service. Environments that comply with these guidelines would be at a reduced risk from this vulnerability. Top of section Workarounds for Utility Manager Vulnerability - CAN-2004-0213: Microsoft has tested the following workarounds. While these workarounds will not correct the underlying vulnerability, they help block known attack vectors. When a workaround reduces functionality, it is identified below. Use the Group Policy settings to disable Utility Manager on all affected systems that do not require this feature. Because Utility Manager is a possible attack vector, disable it by using the Group Policy settings. The Utility Manager process name is Utilman.exe. The following guide provides information about how to require users to run only approved applications by using the Group Policy settings. Note You may also review the Windows 2000 Hardening Guide. This guide includes information about how to disable Utility Manager. Impact of Workaround: Utility Manager provides easy access to many of the accessibility features of the operating system. This access would be unavailable until the restrictions are removed. For more information about how to start many of the accessibility features manually, visit the following Web site. Top of section FAQ for Utility Manager Vulnerability - CAN-2004-0213: Top of section Security Update Information Installation Platforms and Prerequisites: For information about the specific security update for your platform, click the appropriate link: Windows 2000 (all versions) Top of section Acknowledgments Microsoft thanks the following for working with us to help protect customers: • Cesar Cerrudo of Application Security Inc. for reporting Utility the Manager Vulnerability (CAN-2004-0213). Obtaining Other Security Updates: Updates for other security issues are available from the following locations: • Security updates are available from the Microsoft Download Center: You can find them most easily by doing a keyword search for "security_patch". • Updates for consumer platforms are available from the Windows Update Web site. Support: • Customers in the U.S. and Canada can receive technical support from Microsoft Product Support Services at 1-866-PCSAFETY. There is no charge for support calls that are associated with security updates. • International customers can receive support from their local Microsoft subsidiaries. There is no charge for support that is associated with security updates. For more information about how to contact Microsoft for support issues, visit the International Support Web site. Security Resources: • The Microsoft TechNet Security Web site provides additional information about security in Microsoft products. • Microsoft Software Update Services • Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) • Windows Update • Windows Update Catalog: For more information about the Windows Update Catalog, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 323166. • Office Update Software Update Services: By using Microsoft Software Update Services (SUS), administrators can quickly and reliably deploy the latest critical updates and security updates to Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003-based servers, and to desktop systems that are running Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP Professional. For more information about how to deploy this security update with Software Update Services, visit the Software Update Services Web site. Systems Management Server: Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) delivers a highly-configurable enterprise solution for managing updates. By using SMS, administrators can identify Windows- based systems that require security updates and to perform controlled deployment of these updates throughout the enterprise with minimal disruption to end users. For more information about how administrators can use SMS 2003 to deploy security updates, see the SMS 2003 Security Patch Management Web site. SMS 2.0 users can also use Software Updates Service Feature Pack to help deploy security updates. For information about SMS, visit the SMS Web site. Note SMS uses the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer and the Microsoft Office Detection Tool to provide broad support for security bulletin update detection and deployment. Some software updates may not be detected by these tools. Administrators can use the inventory capabilities of the SMS in these cases to target updates to specific systems. For more information about this procedure, see the following Web site. Some security updates require administrative rights following a restart of the system. Administrators can use the Elevated Rights Deployment Tool (available in the SMS 2003 Administration Feature Pack and in the SMS 2.0 Administration Feature Pack) to install these updates. 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 13, 2004): Bulletin published [***** End Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-019 *****] _______________________________________________________________________________ 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. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or the University of California, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes. 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