Patch Available for "File Access URL" Vulnerability
Published: November 12, 1999
Version: 1.0
Originally Posted: November 12, 1999
Summary
Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows 98. The vulnerability could allow a malicious web site or e-mail message to cause the Windows machine to crash, or to run arbitrary code.
There is a buffer overflow in the Windows 95 and Windows 98 networking software that processes file name strings. If the networking software were provided with a very long random string as input, it could crash the machine. If provided with a specially-malformed argument, it could be used to run arbitrary code on the machine via a classic buffer overrun attack.
The vulnerability could be exploited remotely in cases where a file:// URL or a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) string on a remote web site included a long file name or where a long file name was included in an e-mail message.
Affected Software Versions
The buffer overrun is present in the networking software in all versions of Windows 95 and Windows 98.
Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) article 245729, Windows 95 and 98 File Access URL Update, </https:>https:.
(Note: It may take 24 hours from the original posting of this bulletin for the KB article to be visible.)
This is a fully supported patch. Information on contacting Microsoft Technical Support is available at </https:>https:.
Acknowledgments
Microsoft acknowledges UNYUN, the Shadow Penguin Security Research Group of Japan for bringing this issue to our attention.
Revisions
November 12, 1999: Bulletin Created.
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