Microsoft Java implementation allows execution of malicious code

Overview

A class in Microsoft’s Java virtual machine (VM) does not properly validate trusted applets, allowing untrusted applets to exploit native methods and execute arbitrary code.

Description

Microsoft’s Java VM is installed on Windows 98, NT, 2000, and xp. It is used by Internet Explorer and Outlook Express to execute Java applets.

The VM includes a class named “com.ms.osp.ospmrshl” that provides XML support to Java applets. This class exposes certain methods that are only intended to be accessed by trusted applets. However, the class does not check whether the applet is trusted before exposing these methods. Therefore, untrusted applets may access the methods and use them to execute arbitrary code on the client system.

The default configuration of Outlook Express 2002 and Outlook Express 6 opens HTML messages in the Restricted Sites zone, where Java applets are disabled. The same is true for Outlook Express 98 and 2000 if the Outlook Email Security Update has been applied. In these cases, the vulnerability described herein is not exploitable within Outlook Express.

This vulnerability may still be exploited by leading an Internet Explorer user to visit a web page containing a malicious Java applet.

---

Impact

A remote attacker may execute arbitrary code on a client running Internet Explorer or some configurations of Outlook Express.

---

Solution

Apply a patch

For more information, see:

<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-052.asp&gt;

---

Vendor Information

140898

Filter by status: All Affected Not Affected Unknown

Filter by content: __ Additional information available

__ Sort by: Status Alphabetical

Expand all

Javascript is disabled. Click here to view vendors.

Microsoft Corporation __ Affected

Notified: October 10, 2002 Updated: October 11, 2002

Status

Affected

Vendor Statement

See:

<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-052.asp&gt;

Vendor Information

The vendor has not provided us with any further information regarding this vulnerability.

Addendum

The CERT/CC has no additional comments at this time.

If you have feedback, comments, or additional information about this vulnerability, please send us [email](<mailto:[email protected]?Subject=VU%23140898 Feedback>).

CVSS Metrics

Group	Score	Vector
Base
Temporal
Environmental

References

• <http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/5670&gt;
• <http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-052.asp&gt;

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Jouko Pynnonen for reporting this vulnerability.

This document was written by Shawn Van Ittersum.

Other Information

CVE IDs:	CVE-2002-0865
Severity Metric:	19.85 Date Public: