Microsoft Windows CVE-2017-0055 Cross Site Scripting Vulnerability

Description

Microsoft Windows is prone to a cross-site-scripting vulnerability because it fails to sufficiently sanitize user-supplied input. An attacker may leverage this issue to execute arbitrary script code in the browser of an unsuspecting user in the context of the affected site. This may allow the attacker to steal cookie-based authentication credentials and to launch other attacks.

Technologies Affected

• Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems
• Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems
• Microsoft Windows 10 for 32-bit Systems
• Microsoft Windows 10 for x64-based Systems
• Microsoft Windows 10 version 1511 for 32-bit Systems
• Microsoft Windows 10 version 1511 for x64-based Systems
• Microsoft Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems SP1
• Microsoft Windows 7 for x64-based Systems SP1
• Microsoft Windows 8.1 for 32-bit Systems
• Microsoft Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems
• Microsoft Windows RT 8.1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 for 32-bit Systems SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2012
• Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2016 for x64-based Systems
• Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 2
• Microsoft Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2

Recommendations

Deploy network intrusion detection systems to monitor network traffic for malicious activity.
Deploy NIDS to detect and block attacks and anomalous activity such as requests containing suspicious URI sequences. Since the webserver may log such requests, review its logs regularly.

Do not follow links provided by unknown or untrusted sources.
Web users should be cautious about following links to sites that are provided by unfamiliar or suspicious sources. Filtering HTML from emails may help remove a possible vector for transmitting malicious links to users.

Set web browser security to disable the execution of JavaScript.
Since a successful exploit of this issue allows malicious code to execute in web clients, consider disabling support for script code and active content within the client browser. Note that this mitigation tactic might adversely affect legitimate websites that rely on the execution of browser-based script code.

Updates are available. Please see the references or vendor advisory for more information.