Microsoft Hyperlink Object Library buffer overflow

Overview

A vulnerability in Microsoft Hyperlink Object Library may allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on an affected system.

Description

The Hyperlink Object Library is a collection of application programming interfaces that provide functionality for handling hyperlinks. The Microsoft Hyperlink Object Library contains a buffer overflow vulnerability that may allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code. A remote attacker can exploit the vulnerability by crafting a malicious hyperlink embeded into a Microsoft Office file or e-mail message. If a user opens the malicious hyperlink, arbitrary code can be executed. Once the remote attacker has successfully exploited this vulnerability, they can gain the same user rights as the local user.

Microsoft’s bulletin states that the following Windows operating systems are affected by this vulnerability:

* Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
* Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2
* Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
* Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Service Pack 1
* Microsoft Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based Systems and Service Pack 1
* Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition  

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Impact

A remote attacker who can successfully convince a user to open an email message or Microsoft office file and click a link may be able to execute arbitrary code and gain control of the affected system.

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Solution

Apply an update
Microsoft has released updates in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-050 to addess this issue.

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Workarounds

Microsoft lists the following workarounds for this vulnerability.

Modify the Access Control List to deny access to Hlink.dll for all users

Disabling the Hlink.dll registry key can protect the affected system from attempts to exploit this vulnerability. By disabling the Hlink.dll registry key, hyperlinks embedded in Microsoft Office documents cannot be edited or opened.

Click Start, clickRun, and typecacls %windir%\system32\hlink.dll /d everyone, and clickok

Modify the Access Control List to disable the HLINK registry key

Modifying the HLINK registry key in the Windows registry will help prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability. By modifying the HLINK registry key, hyperlinks embedded in Microsoft Office documents cannot be edited or opened.

Please see the Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-050 for further details and cautions regarding use of the Registry Editor.

For Windows 2000 1. ClickStart, clickRun, and typeregedit32, clickOK 2. ExpandHKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, expandCLSID, and click79eac9d0-baf9-11ce-8c82-00aa004ba90b 3. ClickSecurity, and then click** Permissions** 4. Uncheck theAllow Inheritable Permissions from the parent to propagate to this object check box. If asked to select fromCopy,Remove, orCancel; selectRemoveand then clickOK.
5. An alert will be displayed that no one will be able to access this registry key. Click Yes.

For Windows XP Service Pack 1 or Later

1. Click Start, clickRun, and typeregedit, clickOK 2. ExpandHKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, expandCLSID, and click79eac9d0-baf9-11ce-8c82-00aa004ba90b 3. ClickSecurity, and then click** Permissions** 4. ClickAdvanced 5. Uncheck theInherit from parent the permission entried that apply to child objects. Include these with entries explicitly defined here. check box. If asked to select fromCopy,Remove, orCancel; selectRemoveand then clickOK.
2. An alert will be displayed that no one will be able to access this registry key. Click Yes, and then click OK to close thePermissions for 79eac9d0-baf9-11ce-8c82-00aa004ba90b dialog box.**Read e-mail messages in plain text **

Open only hyperlinks in Microsoft Office documents that come from trusted sources.

• Note that these workarounds do NOT fix the underlying vulnerability but will help block known methods of attack.

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Vendor Information

683612

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Updated: August 08, 2006

Status

Affected

Vendor Statement

We have not received a statement from the vendor.

Vendor Information

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

Addendum

Microsoft Corporation has published Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-050 in response to this issue. Users are encouraged to review this bulletin and apply the referenced patches.

If you have feedback, comments, or additional information about this vulnerability, please send us [email](<mailto:[email protected]?Subject=VU%23683612 Feedback>).

CVSS Metrics

Group	Score	Vector
Base
Temporal
Environmental

References

<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms06-050.mspx&gt;

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Microsoft Security for reporting this vulnerability in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-050. Microsoft, in turn, thanks Steve Tai of CSC Australia Pty Limited for reporting the vulnerability to them.

This document was written by Katie Washok.

Other Information

CVE IDs:	CVE-2006-3438
Severity Metric:	8.61 Date Public: