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Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for December 2012

Published: | Updated:

Version: 2.0

This bulletin summary lists security bulletins released for December 2012.

With the release of the security bulletins for December 2012, this bulletin summary replaces the bulletin advance notification originally issued December 6, 2012. For more information about the bulletin advance notification service, see Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification.

For information about how to receive automatic notifications whenever Microsoft security bulletins are issued, visit Microsoft Technical Security Notifications.

Microsoft is hosting a webcast to address customer questions on these bulletins on December 12, 2012, at 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US & Canada). Register now for the December Security Bulletin Webcast. After this date, this webcast is available on-demand.

Microsoft also provides information to help customers prioritize monthly security updates with any non-security updates that are being released on the same day as the monthly security updates. Please see the section, Other Information.

Bulletin Information

Executive Summaries

The following table summarizes the security bulletins for this month in order of severity.

For details on affected software, see the next section, Affected Software and Download Locations.

Bulletin IDBulletin Title and Executive SummaryMaximum Severity Rating and Vulnerability ImpactRestart RequirementAffected Software
MS12-077Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (2761465) 

This security update resolves three privately reported vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer. The most severe vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if a user views a specially crafted webpage using Internet Explorer. An attacker who successfully exploited these vulnerabilities could gain the same user rights as the current 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.		Critical 
Remote Code Execution		Requires restartMicrosoft Windows, 
Internet Explorer
MS12-078Vulnerabilities in Windows Kernel-Mode Drivers Could Allow Remote Code Execution
(2783534) 

This security update resolves one publicly disclosed vulnerability and one privately reported vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. The more severe of these vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted document or visits a malicious webpage that embeds TrueType or OpenType font files. An attacker would have to convince users to visit the website, typically by getting them to click a link in an email message that takes them to the attacker's website.		Critical 
Remote Code Execution		Requires restartMicrosoft Windows
MS12-079Vulnerability in Microsoft Word Could Allow Remote Code Execution (2780642) 

This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Microsoft Office. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted RTF file using an affected version of Microsoft Office software, or previews or opens a specially crafted RTF email message in Outlook while using Microsoft Word as the email viewer. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the current 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.		Critical 
Remote Code Execution		May require restartMicrosoft Office
MS12-080Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server Could Allow Remote Code Execution (2784126) 

This security update resolves publicly disclosed vulnerabilities and one privately reported vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server. The most severe vulnerabilities are in Microsoft Exchange Server WebReady Document Viewing and could allow remote code execution in the security context of the transcoding service on the Exchange server if a user previews a specially crafted file using Outlook Web App (OWA). The transcoding service in Exchange that is used for WebReady Document Viewing is running in the LocalService account. The LocalService account has minimum privileges on the local computer and presents anonymous credentials on the network.		Critical 
Remote Code Execution		May require restartMicrosoft Server Software
MS12-081Vulnerability in Windows File Handling Component Could Allow Remote Code Execution (2758857) 

This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a user browses to a folder that contains a file or subfolder with a specially crafted name. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the current 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.		Critical 
Remote Code Execution		Requires restartMicrosoft Windows
MS12-082Vulnerability in DirectPlay Could Allow Remote Code Execution (2770660) 

This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if an attacker convinces a user to view a specially crafted Office document with embedded content. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the current 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.		Important 
Remote Code Execution		May require restartMicrosoft Windows
MS12-083Vulnerability in IP-HTTPS Component Could Allow Security Feature Bypass (2765809) 

This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. The vulnerability could allow security feature bypass if an attacker presents a revoked certificate to an IP-HTTPS server commonly used in Microsoft DirectAccess deployments. To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker must use a certificate issued from the domain for IP-HTTPS server authentication. Logging on to a system inside the organization would still require system or domain credentials.		Important 
Security Feature Bypass		Requires restartMicrosoft Windows

Exploitability Index

Affected Software and Download Locations

Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance

Other Information

Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool

Microsoft has released an updated version of the Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool on Windows Update, Microsoft Update, Windows Server Update Services, and the Download Center.

Non-Security Updates on MU, WU, and WSUS

For information about non-security releases on Windows Update and Microsoft Update, please see:

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 websites provided by program partners listed in Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP) Partners.

Security Strategies and Community

Update Management Strategies

Security Guidance for Update Management provides additional information about Microsoft’s best-practice recommendations for applying security updates.

Obtaining Other Security Updates

Updates for other security issues are available from the following locations:

  • Security updates are available from Microsoft Download Center. You can find them most easily by doing a keyword search for "security update".
  • Updates for consumer platforms are available from Microsoft Update.
  • You can obtain the security updates offered this month on Windows Update, from Download Center on Security and Critical Releases ISO CD Image files. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 913086.

IT Pro Security Community

Learn to improve security and optimize your IT infrastructure, and participate with other IT Pros on security topics in IT Pro Security Community.

Acknowledgments

Microsoft thanks the following for working with us to help protect customers:

  • Rosario Valotta for reporting two issues described in MS12-077
  • Fermin J. Serna of Google Inc for reporting an issue described in MS12-077
  • Eetu Luodemaa and Joni Vähämäki of Documill, working with the Chromium Security Rewards Program, for reporting an issue described in MS12-078
  • An anonymous contributor, working with Beyond Security's SecuriTeam Secure Disclosure program, for reporting an issue described in MS12-079
  • Lucas Apa of IOActive for reporting an issue described in MS12-081
  • Aniway, working with VeriSign iDefense Labs, for reporting an issue described in MS12-082

Support

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 11, 2012): Bulletin Summary published.
  • V1.1 (December 12, 2012): Corrected restart requirement entry for MS12-082. This is an informational change only. There were no changes to security update files.
  • V2.0 (December 20, 2012): For MS12-078, rereleased update KB2753842 to resolve an issue with OpenType fonts not properly rendering after the original update was installed. Customers who have successfully installed the original KB2753842 update need to install the rereleased update.