Microsoft Office Security Bulletin Summary for November, 2003
Published: | Updated:
Version: 1.2
An End User version of this advisory is available at: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/update/bulletins/default.mspx
Protect your PC: Microsoft has provided information on how you can help protect your PC at the following locations:
- End Users can visit http://www.microsoft.com/protect
- IT Professionals can visit http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/default.mspx
Update Management Strategies: The Patch Management, Security Updates, and Downloads Web site provides additional information about Microsoft’s best practices recommendations for applying security updates.
IT Pro Security Zone Community: Learn to improve security and optimize your IT infrastructure, and participate with other IT Pros on security topics: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/en-us/community/security/default.mspx
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Summary
Included in this advisory is an update describing newly discovered vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office (Microsoft Word and Excel). These vulnerabilities, broken down by severity are:
Important
| Affected Software | Microsoft Excel 97 Microsoft Excel 2000 Microsoft Excel 2002 Microsoft Word 97 Microsoft Word 98(J) Microsoft Word 2000, Microsoft Works Suite 2001 Microsoft Word 2002, Microsoft Works Suite 2002, Microsoft Works Suite 2003 and Microsoft Works Suite 2004 |
| Impact | Remote Code Execution |
| Last Revised | February 13, 2003 |
| Version Number | 1.1 |
Deployment
Systems Management Server (SMS):
Systems Management Server can provide assistance deploying this security update. For information about Systems Management Server visit the SMS Web Site. SMS also provides several additional tools to assist administrators in the deployment of security updates such as the SMS 2.0 Software Update Services Feature Pack and the SMS 2.0 Administration Feature Pack. The SMS 2.0 Software Update Services Feature Pack utilizes the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer and the Microsoft Office Detection Tool to provide broad support for security bulletin remediation. Some software updates may require administrative rights following a restart of the computer.
Note: The inventory capabilities of the SMS 2.0 Software Update Services Feature Pack may be used for targeting updates to specific computers, and the SMS 2.0 Administration Feature Pack's Elevated Rights Deployment Tool can be used for installation. This provides optimal deployment for updates that require explicit targeting using Systems Management Server and administrative rights after the computer has been restarted.
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA):
The Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer allows administrators to scan local and remote systems for missing security patches as well as common security misconfigurations. More information on MBSA is available at: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/tools/mbsahome.mspx
Other Information:
Acknowledgments
Microsoft thanks the following for working with us to protect customers:
- Kazuyuki Housaka for reporting the Excel issue described in MS03-050.
Support:
- Technical support is available from Microsoft Product Support Services at 1-866-PCSAFETY. There is no charge for support calls associated with security patches.
- International customers can get support from their local Microsoft subsidiaries. There is no charge for support associated with security updates. Information on how to contact Microsoft support is available at http://support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx.
Security Resources:
- The Microsoft TechNet Security Web Site provides additional information about security in Microsoft products.
- Microsoft Software Update Services: http://www.microsoft.com/sus/
- Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) details: http://www.microsoft.com/mbsa. Please see http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;306460 for list of security patches that have detection limitations with MBSA tool.
- Windows Update Catalog: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;323166
- Windows Update: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
- Office Update: http://office.microsoft.com/officeupdate/
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 November 11, 2003: First Published.
- V1.1 February 13, 2004: Changed the section for Microsoft Excel 2002 under Security Update information to discuss the correct version of Excel in MS03-050.
- V1.2 June 16, 2004: Updated information in Summary Bulletin about Update Management Strategies.