Return-Path: owner-microsoft_security@ANNOUNCE.MICROSOFT.COM X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2524.0) Message-ID: Date: Tue, 31 Aug 1999 11:59:14 -0700 Sender: Microsoft Product Security Notification Service From: Microsoft Product Security Subject: Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS99-032) To: MICROSOFT_SECURITY@ANNOUNCE.MICROSOFT.COM The following is a Security Bulletin from the Microsoft Product Security Notification Service. Please do not reply to this message, as it was sent from an unattended mailbox. ******************************** Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS99-032) -------------------------------------- Patch Available for "Scriptlet.typlib/Eyedog" Vulnerability Originally Posted: August 31, 1999 Summary ======= Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates security vulnerabilities in two ActiveX controls. The net effect of the vulnerabilities is that a web page could take unauthorized action against a person who visited it. Specifically, the web page would be able to do anything on the computer that the user could do. Frequently asked questions regarding this vulnerability can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/security/bulletins/MS99-032faq.asp Issue ===== This issue involves two ActiveX controls, Scriptlet.typlib and Eyedog. These controls are not in any way related to each other; their only relationship is that both are incorrectly marked as "safe for scripting" and can therefore be called from Internet Explorer. - Scriptlet.typlib is a control used by developers to generate Type Libraries for Windows Script Components. It is marked as "safe for scripting", but should not be because it allows local files to be created or modified. The patch removes the "safe for scripting" marking, thereby causing IE to request confirmation from the user before loading the control. - Eyedog is a control used by diagnostic software in Windows. It is marked as "safe for scripting", but should not be because it allows registry information to be queried and machine characteristics to be gathered. In addition, one of the control's methods is vulnerable to a buffer overrun attack. The patch sets the so-called "kill bit", which prevents it from loading within IE. Affected Software Versions ========================== - Microsoft(r) Internet Explorer 4.0 and 5.0 Patch Availability ================== - ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/peropsys/IE/IE-Public/ Fixes/usa/Eyedog-fix/ NOTE: Circa September 7, 1999, the patch also will be available through WindowsUpdate. More Information ================ Please see the following references for more information related to this issue. - Microsoft Security Bulletin MS99-032: Frequently Asked Questions, http://www.microsoft.com/security/bulletins/MS99-032faq.asp. - Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) article Q240308, Update Available for Scriptlet.typlib/Eyedog Security Vulnerability, http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q240/3/08.asp. - Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) article Q240797, How to Keep an ActiveX Control from Running in Internet Explorer, http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q240/7/97.asp. - Microsoft Security Advisor web site, http://www.microsoft.com/security/default.asp. (Note: It may take 24 hours from the original posting of this bulletin for the KB articles to be visible.) Obtaining Support on this Issue =============================== This is a fully supported patch. Information on contacting Microsoft Technical Support is available at http://support.microsoft.com/support/contact/default.asp. Acknowledgments =============== Microsoft acknowledges Georgi Guninski, independent consultant, for reporting the "Scriptlet.typlib" vulnerability to us, and Shane Hird of Australia, Adrian O'Neill and Richard Smith for reporting the "Eyedog" vulnerability to us. Revisions ========= - August 31, 1999: Bulletin Created. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. 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