Risk
Medium
Date Discovered
July 7, 2004
Description
Microsoft Windows Program Group Converter (grpconv.exe) is reported prone to a buffer overrun vulnerability. The issue is reported to exist due to a lack of sufficient validation performed on filename data.
An attacker may craft a malicious file and present it to a victim in order to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, it is demonstrated that this vulnerability may also be exploited using a series of seperate vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer in order to exploit this vulnerability when a malicious website is viewed.
It is reported that exploitation may be hindered because parameter data is stored in Unicode format.
Recommendations
Do not accept or execute files from untrusted or unknown sources.
A '.grp' file may be used to exploit this vulnerability. Do not accept or open '.grp' files that originate from users of questionable integrity.Do not follow links provided by unknown or untrusted sources.
An attacker may present a link to a malicious site designed to exploit this vulnerability. Avoid following links that are received unexpectedly or that originate from users of questionable integrity.
Microsoft has released Security Bulletin MS04-037 dealing with this issue.
Avaya has released an advisory that acknowledges this vulnerability for Avaya products. The issue is considered low risk as it requires local interactive access in order to be exploited. Customers are advised to follow Microsoft's guidance for applying patches. Please see the referenced Avaya advisory at the following location for further details:
http://support.avaya.com/japple/css/japple?temp.groupID=128450&temp.selectedFamily=128451&temp.selectedProduct=154235&temp.selectedBucket=126655&temp.feedbackState=askForFeedback&temp.documentID=203487&PAGE=avaya.css.CSSLvl1Detail&executeTransaction=avaya.css.UsageUpdate()
Credits
Discovery of this vulnerability is credited to Andreas Sandblad.
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secure@symantec.com.
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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