This security update resolves vulnerabilities in Windows Uniscribe. The most severe of these vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if a user visits a specially crafted website or opens a specially crafted document. 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 Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 10, Windows 10 Version 1511, Windows 10 Version 1607, and Windows Server 2016. For more information, see the Affected Software and Vulnerability Severity Ratings section.
The security update addresses these vulnerabilities by correcting how Windows Uniscribe handles objects in memory. For more information about these vulnerabilities, see the Vulnerability Information section.
Affected Software and Vulnerability Severity Ratings
The following software versions or editions are affected. Versions or editions that are not listed are either past their support life cycle or are not affected. To determine the support life cycle for your software version or edition, see Microsoft Support Lifecycle.
The severity ratings indicated for each affected software assume the potential maximum impact of the vulnerability. For information regarding the likelihood, within 30 days of this security bulletin’s release, of the exploitability of the vulnerability in relation to its severity rating and security impact, please see the Exploitability Index in the March bulletin summary.
Note Please see the Security Update Guide for a new approach to consuming the security update information. You can customize your views and create affected software spreadsheets, as well as download data via a restful API. For more information, please see the Security Updates Guide FAQ. As a reminder, the Security Updates Guide will be replacing security bulletins. Please see our blog post, Furthering our commitment to security updates, for more details.
[1]Beginning with the October 2016 release, Microsoft has changed the update servicing model for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2. For more information, please see this Microsoft TechNet article.
[3]Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 updates are cumulative. The monthly security release includes all security fixes for vulnerabilities that affect Windows 10, in addition to non-security updates. The updates are available via the Microsoft Update Catalog. Please note that effective December 13, 2016, Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 details for the Cumulative Updates will be documented in Release Notes. Please refer to the Release Notes for OS Build numbers, Known Issues, and affected file list information.
*The Updates Replaced column shows only the latest update in any chain of superseded updates. For a comprehensive list of updates replaced, go to the Microsoft Update Catalog, search for the update KB number, and then view update details (updates replaced information is provided on the Package Details tab).
Update FAQ
Why is security update 4012583 in this bulletin also denoted in MS17-013?
Security update 4012583 is also denoted in MS17-013 for supported releases of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 due to the way fixes for vulnerabilities affecting particular products are consolidated. Because bulletins are broken out by the vulnerabilities being addressed, not by the update package being released, it is possible for separate bulletins, each addressing distinctly different vulnerabilities, to list the same update package as the vehicle for providing their respective fixes. This is frequently the case with cumulative updates for products, such as Internet Explorer or Silverlight, where singular security updates address different security vulnerabilities in separate bulletins.
Note Users do not need to install identical security updates that ship with multiple bulletins more than once.
Vulnerability Information
Multiple Windows Uniscribe Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities
Multiple remote code execution vulnerabilities exist in Windows due to the way Windows Uniscribe handles objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited these vulnerabilities could take control of the 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.
There are multiple ways an attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities:
In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a specially crafted website that is designed to exploit these vulnerabilities and then convince a user to view the website. An attacker would have no way to force users to view the attacker-controlled content. Instead, an attacker would have to convince users to take action, typically by getting them to click a link in an email or instant message that takes users to the attacker's website, or by opening an attachment sent through email.
In a file sharing attack scenario, an attacker could provide a specially crafted document file designed to exploit these vulnerabilities and then convince a user to open the document file.
The security update addresses these vulnerabilities by correcting how Windows Uniscribe handles objects in memory.
The following table contains links to the standard entry for each vulnerability in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures list:
Vulnerability title
CVE number
Publicly disclosed
Exploited
Windows Uniscribe Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Microsoft has not identified any mitigating factor for these vulnerabilities.
Workarounds
Microsoft has not identified any workarounds for these vulnerabilities.
Multiple Uniscribe Information Disclosure Vulnerabilities
Multiple information disclosure vulnerabilities exist when Windows Uniscribe improperly discloses the contents of its memory. An attacker who successfully exploited these vulnerabilities could obtain information to further compromise the user’s system.
There are multiple ways an attacker could exploit the vulnerabilities, such as by convincing a user to open a specially crafted document, or by convincing a user to visit an untrusted webpage.
The update addresses these vulnerabilities by correcting how the Windows Uniscribe handles objects in memory.
The following table contains links to the standard entry for each vulnerability in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures list:
Vulnerability title
CVE number
Publicly disclosed
Exploited
Windows Uniscribe Information Disclosure Vulnerability:
Microsoft has not identified any mitigating factor for these vulnerabilities.
Workarounds
Microsoft has not identified any workarounds for these vulnerabilities.
Security Update Deployment
For Security Update Deployment information, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article referenced in the Executive Summary.
Acknowledgments
Microsoft recognizes the efforts of those in the security community who help us protect customers through coordinated vulnerability disclosure. See Acknowledgments for more information.
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.
Learn how to use Windows Server Update Services to deploy operating system updates to computers on your network. Select the appropriate deployment option and combine WSUS with Microsoft Azure Update Management to manage server updates.
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