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Microsoft Windows Compressed (zipped) Folder Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

Risk
High

Date Discovered
10-12-2004

Description
Microsoft Windows contains a buffer overflow in the Compressed (zipped) Folders feature. A maliciously crafted compressed file could overrun an internal buffer causing arbitrary code to be executed in the security context of the current user.

Symantec Vulnerability Assessment
Symantec Vulnerability Assessment detects and reports this vulnerability. Click here for the advisory released October 13, 2004.

Symantec Enterprise Security Manager
Symantec Enterprise Security Manager™ posted an update to the OS Patch Policy that detects and reports systems that are not patched against this vulnerability. Click here for the advisory released October 13, 2004.

Components Affected
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition 64-bit
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition 64-bit
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Web Edition
Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition SP1
Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition
Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition Version 2003 SP1
Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition Version 2003
Microsoft Windows XP Home SP1
Microsoft Windows XP Home
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition SP1
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP1
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition

Recommendations
Run all client software as a non-privileged user with minimal access rights.
All client software should be run with the least amount of privileges required. This will help limit the consequences of successful exploitation of this and other latent vulnerabilities.

Deploy network intrusion detection systems to monitor network traffic for malicious activity.
Deploy network intrusion detection systems to monitor all network traffic for signs of suspicious or anomalous activity. This may aid in detecting attempts to exploit latent vulnerabilities or in detecting malicious activity that occurs as a result of successful exploitation.

Do not accept or execute files from untrusted or unknown sources.
In order for this vulnerability to be exploited, a user would have to open a compressed file. Only open files from known and trusted sources after verifying their integrity.

Do not accept communications that originate from unknown or untrusted sources.
Disabling client support for HTML email may limit exposure to this attack vector.

Microsoft has released a bulletin that includes fixes to address this issue for supported versions of the operating system.

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition :

Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB873376)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0903569E-7F3D-4846-A1DC-78734E77D3A9&displaylang=en

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition 64-bit :
Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows Server 2003 64-Bit Edition and Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2003 (K
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=4B63EF24-D0E4-4005-8E23-2F5EC24BE63F&displaylang=en

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition :
Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB873376)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0903569E-7F3D-4846-A1DC-78734E77D3A9&displaylang=en

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition 64-bit :
Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows Server 2003 64-Bit Edition and Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2003 (K
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=4B63EF24-D0E4-4005-8E23-2F5EC24BE63F&displaylang=en

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition :
Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB873376)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0903569E-7F3D-4846-A1DC-78734E77D3A9&displaylang=en

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Web Edition :
Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB873376)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0903569E-7F3D-4846-A1DC-78734E77D3A9&displaylang=en

Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition SP1:
Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows XP 64-bit Edition (KB873376)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=3F6896F3-F055-438D-93CE-CD15F37264CB&displaylang=en

Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition :
Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition Version 2003 SP1:
Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows Server 2003 64-Bit Edition and Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2003 (K
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=4B63EF24-D0E4-4005-8E23-2F5EC24BE63F&displaylang=en

Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition Version 2003 :
Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows Server 2003 64-Bit Edition and Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2003 (K
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=4B63EF24-D0E4-4005-8E23-2F5EC24BE63F&displaylang=en

Microsoft Windows XP Home SP1:
Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows XP (KB873376)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=6B70BA00-56D1-4314-8F53-F8355A6861D3&displaylang=en

Microsoft Windows XP Home :
Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows XP (KB873376)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=6B70BA00-56D1-4314-8F53-F8355A6861D3&displaylang=en

Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition SP1:
Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows XP (KB873376)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=6B70BA00-56D1-4314-8F53-F8355A6861D3&displaylang=en

Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition :
Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows XP (KB873376)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=6B70BA00-56D1-4314-8F53-F8355A6861D3&displaylang=en

Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP1:
Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows XP (KB873376)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=6B70BA00-56D1-4314-8F53-F8355A6861D3&displaylang=en

Microsoft Windows XP Professional :
Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows XP (KB873376)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=6B70BA00-56D1-4314-8F53-F8355A6861D3&displaylang=en

Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition :
Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows XP (KB873376)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=6B70BA00-56D1-4314-8F53-F8355A6861D3&displaylang=en

References
Source: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-034
URL: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms04-034.mspx

Source: Windows Shell ZIP File Decompression DUNZIP32.DLL Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
URL: http://www.eeye.com/html/research/advisories/AD20041012A.html

Credits
Discovery is credited to eEye Digital Security.


Copyright (c) 2004 by Symantec Corp.
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Disclaimer
The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing based on currently available information. Use of the information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are no warranties with regard to this information. Neither the author nor the publisher accepts any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on, this information.

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