Microsoft Security Bulletin MS10-083 - Important
Vulnerability in COM Validation in Windows Shell and WordPad Could Allow Remote Code Execution (2405882)
Published: | Updated:
Version: 2.0
General Information
Executive Summary
This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted file using WordPad or selects or opens a shortcut file that is on a network or WebDAV share. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the local user. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.
This security update is rated Important for all supported releases of Microsoft Windows. For more information, see the subsection, Affected and Non-Affected Software, in this section.
The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting the way that the Windows Shell and WordPad validate COM objects. For more information about the vulnerability, see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) subsection for the specific vulnerability entry under the next section, Vulnerability Information.
Recommendation. The majority of customers have automatic updating enabled and will not need to take any action because this security update will be downloaded and installed automatically. Customers who have not enabled automatic updating need to check for updates and install this update manually. For information about specific configuration options in automatic updating, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 294871.
For administrators and enterprise installations, or end users who want to install this security update manually, Microsoft recommends that customers apply the update at the earliest opportunity using update management software, or by checking for updates using the Microsoft Update service.
See also the section, Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance, later in this bulletin.
Known Issues. Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2405882 documents the currently known issues that customers may experience when installing this security update. The article also documents recommended solutions for these issues.
Affected and Non-Affected Software
The following software have been tested to determine which versions or editions are affected. Other versions or editions are either past their support life cycle or are not affected. To determine the support life cycle for your software version or edition, visit Microsoft Support Lifecycle.
Affected Software
**Server Core installation not affected. The vulnerabilities addressed by this update do not affect supported editions of Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 as indicated, when installed using the Server Core installation option. For more information on this installation option, see the TechNet articles, Managing a Server Core Installation and Servicing a Server Core Installation. Note that the Server Core installation option does not apply to certain editions of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2; see Compare Server Core Installation Options.
[1]Where both security update packages for WordPad (KB979687) and Windows Shell (KB979688) are available for the same operating system, customers need to install both to be protected from the vulnerabilities described in this bulletin.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Related to This Security Update
Vulnerability Information
Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers
COM Validation Vulnerability - CVE-2010-1263
Update Information
Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance
Security Update Deployment
Other Information
Acknowledgments
Microsoft thanks the following for working with us to help protect customers:
- HD Moore of Rapid7 for reporting the COM Validation Vulnerability (CVE-2010-1263)
- David Dewey of IBM ISS X-Force and Ryan Smith of Accuvant, formerly of VeriSign iDefense Labs, for working with us on the defense-in-depth changes addressed in this bulletin.
Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP)
To improve security protections for customers, Microsoft provides vulnerability information to major security software providers in advance of each monthly security update release. Security software providers can then use this vulnerability information to provide updated protections to customers via their security software or devices, such as antivirus, network-based intrusion detection systems, or host-based intrusion prevention systems. To determine whether active protections are available from security software providers, please visit the active protections Web sites provided by program partners, listed in Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP) Partners.
Support
- Customers in the U.S. and Canada can receive technical support from Security Support or 1-866-PCSAFETY. There is no charge for support calls that are associated with security updates. For more information about available support options, see Microsoft Help and Support.
- International customers can receive support from their local Microsoft subsidiaries. There is no charge for support that is associated with security updates. For more information about how to contact Microsoft for support issues, visit the International Support Web site.
Disclaimer
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. In no event shall Microsoft Corporation or its suppliers be liable for any damages whatsoever including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, loss of business profits or special damages, even if Microsoft Corporation or its suppliers have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages so the foregoing limitation may not apply.
Revisions
- V1.0 (October 12, 2010): Bulletin published.
- V2.0 (December 14, 2010): Added an update FAQ to announce an additional update for Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (KB979688) and Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (KB979688) for users who have installed Windows Search 4.0 on Windows Vista Service Pack 1 or Windows Server 2008, then installed the security update offered in KB2405882, and then migrated to Windows Vista Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2. Customers in this scenario will need to install the new update offered in KB2405882 to be protected against the vulnerability described in this bulletin.
