Launch Printer Friendly Page Security TechCenter > Security Bulletins > Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-071

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-071 - Critical

Vulnerabilities in GDI Could Allow Remote Code Execution (956802)

Published: | Updated:

Version: 1.1

General Information

Executive Summary

This security update resolves two privately reported vulnerabilities in GDI. Exploitation of either of these vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted WMF image file. An attacker who successfully exploited these vulnerabilities could take complete control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. 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 Critical for all supported editions of Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008. For more information, see the subsection, Affected and Non-Affected Software, in this section.

The security update addresses the vulnerabilities by modifying the way GDI validates file size parameters and performs integer calculations to prevent overflow conditions. For more information about the vulnerabilities, see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) subsection for the specific vulnerability entry under the next section, Vulnerability Information.

Recommendation. Microsoft recommends that customers apply the update immediately.

Known Issues. None

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

Operating SystemMaximum Security ImpactAggregate Severity RatingBulletins Replaced by this Update
Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4Remote Code ExecutionCriticalMS08-021
Windows XP Service Pack 2Remote Code ExecutionCriticalMS08-021
Windows XP Service Pack 3Remote Code ExecutionCriticalNone
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2Remote Code ExecutionCriticalMS08-021
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2Remote Code ExecutionCriticalMS08-021
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition and Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2Remote Code ExecutionCriticalMS08-021
Windows Server 2003 with SP1 for Itanium-based Systems and Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based SystemsRemote Code ExecutionCriticalMS08-021
Windows Vista and Windows Vista Service Pack 1Remote Code ExecutionCriticalMS08-021
Windows Vista x64 Edition and Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 1Remote Code ExecutionCriticalMS08-021
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems*Remote Code ExecutionCriticalMS08-021
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems*Remote Code ExecutionCriticalMS08-021
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based SystemsRemote Code ExecutionCriticalMS08-021

*Windows Server 2008 server core installation affected. For supported editions of Windows Server 2008, this update applies, with the same severity rating, whether or not Windows Server 2008 was installed using the Server Core installation option. For more information on this installation option, see Server Core. Note that the Server Core installation option does not apply to certain editions of Windows Server 2008; see Compare Server Core Installation Options.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Related to This Security Update

Vulnerability Information

Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers

GDI Integer Overflow Vulnerability - CVE-2008-2249

GDI Heap Overflow Vulnerability - CVE-2008-3465

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:

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 Microsoft Product Support Services at 1-866-PCSAFETY. There is no charge for support calls that are associated with security updates.
  • 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 (December 9, 2008): Bulletin published.
  • V1.1 (December 10, 2008): Updated the Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers table to list the security impact for GDI Heap Overflow Vulnerability - CVE-2008-3465 as Remote Code Execution for Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4, Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows XP Service Pack 3, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition and Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2, and Windows Server 2003 with SP1 for Itanium-based Systems and Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems.