Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-028

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-028
Vulnerability in Microsoft PowerPoint Could Allow Remote Code Execution (916768)
Published: June 13, 2006

Version: 1.0
Summary

Who Should Read this Document: Customers who use Microsoft PowerPoint

Impact of Vulnerability: Remote Code Execution

Maximum Severity Rating: Critical

Recommendation: Customers should apply the update immediately

Security Update Replacement: This bulletin replaces a prior security update. See the frequently asked questions (FAQ) section of this bulletin for the complete list.

Caveats: None

Tested Software and Security Update Download Locations:

Affected Software:
•

Microsoft Office 2000 Service Pack 3
•

Microsoft PowerPoint 2000 — Download the update (KB916520)
•

Microsoft Office XP Service Pack 3
•

Microsoft PowerPoint 2002 — Download the update (KB916519)
•

Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2
•

Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 — Download the update (KB916518)
•

Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac
•

Microsoft PowerPoint 2004 for Mac — Download the update (KB918963)
•

Microsoft Office v. X for Mac
•

Microsoft PowerPoint v. X for Mac — Download the update (KB918963)

The software in this list has been tested to determine whether the versions are affected. Other versions either no longer include security update support or may not be affected. To determine the support life cycle for your product and version, visit the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Web site.
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General Information

Executive Summary

Executive Summary:

This update resolves a newly discovered, privately reported vulnerability. The vulnerability is documented in this bulletin in the "Vulnerability Details" section of this bulletin.

If a user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of the client workstation. 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.

We recommend that customers apply the update immediately.

Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers:
Vulnerability Identifiers Impact of Vulnerability Microsoft PowerPoint 2000 Microsoft PowerPoint 2002 Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 Microsoft PowerPoint 2004 for Mac Microsoft PowerPoint v. X for Mac

Microsoft PowerPoint Remote Code Execution Using a Malformed Record Vulnerability - CVE-2006-0022

Remote Code Execution

Critical

Important

Important

Important

Important
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Related to this Security Update

What updates does this release replace?
This security update replaces a prior security update. The security bulletin ID and affected operating systems are listed in the following table.
Bulletin ID Microsoft PowerPoint 2000 Microsoft PowerPoint 2002 Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 Microsoft PowerPoint 2004 for Mac Microsoft PowerPoint v. X for Mac

MS06-010

Replaced

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Can I use the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) to determine whether this update is required?

The following table provides the MBSA detection summary for this security update.
Software MBSA 1.2.1 MBSA 2.0

Microsoft PowerPoint 2000

Yes

No

Microsoft PowerPoint 2002

Yes

Yes

Microsoft PowerPoint 2003

Yes

Yes

Microsoft PowerPoint 2004 for Mac

No

No

Microsoft PowerPoint v. X for Mac

No

No

Note MBSA uses an integrated version of the Office Detection Tool (ODT) which does not support remote scans of this issue. For more information about MBSA, visit the MBSA Web site. For more information about MBSA support, visit the following Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 1.2 Q&A Web site.

Note MBSA 1.2.1 or MBSA 2.0 does not support Microsoft Office for Mac 2004.

For more information about MBSA, visit the MBSA Web site. For more information about the programs that Microsoft Update and MBSA 2.0 currently do not detect, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 895660.

Can I use Systems Management Server (SMS) to determine whether this update is required?

The following table provides the SMS summary for this security update.
Software SMS 2.0 SMS 2003

Microsoft PowerPoint 2000

Yes

No

Microsoft PowerPoint 2002

Yes

Yes

Microsoft PowerPoint 2003

Yes

Yes

Microsoft PowerPoint 2004 for Mac

No

No

Microsoft PowerPoint v. X for Mac

No

No

SMS uses MBSA for detection. Therefore, SMS has the same limitation that is listed earlier in this bulletin related to programs that MBSA does not detect.

For SMS 2.0, the SMS SUS Feature Pack, which includes the Security Update Inventory Tool, can be used by SMS to detect security updates. SMS SUIT uses the MBSA 1.2.1 engine for detection. For more information about the Security Update Inventory Tool, visit the following Microsoft Web site. For more information about the limitations of the Security Update Inventory Tool, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 306460. The SMS SUS Feature Pack also includes the Microsoft Office Inventory Tool to detect required updates for Microsoft Office applications.

For SMS 2003, the SMS 2003 Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates can be used by SMS to detect security updates that are offered by Microsoft Update and that are supported by Windows Server Update Services. For more information about the SMS 2003 Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates, visit the following Microsoft Web site. SMS 2003 can also use the Microsoft Office Inventory Tool to detect required updates for Microsoft Office applications.

For more information about SMS, visit the SMS Web site.
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Vulnerability Details

Microsoft PowerPoint Remote Code Execution Using a Malformed Record Vulnerability - CVE-2006-0022

There is a remote code execution vulnerability in PowerPoint that uses a malformed record. An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by constructing a specially crafted PowerPoint file that could allow remote code execution.

If a user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability 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 affected than users who operate with administrative user rights.

Mitigating Factors for Microsoft PowerPoint Remote Code Execution Using a Malformed Record Vulnerability - CVE-2006-0022:
•

An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the local 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.
•

This vulnerability could not be exploited automatically through e-mail. For an attack to be successful a user must open an attachment that is sent in an e-mail message.
•

When running Office XP and Office 2003, this vulnerability could not be exploited automatically through a Web-based attack scenario. An attacker would have to host a Web site that contains an Office file that is used to attempt to exploit this vulnerability. An attacker would have no way to force users to visit a malicious Web site. Instead, an attacker would have to persuade them to visit the Web site, typically by getting them to click a link that takes them to the attacker's site.

Note While this vulnerability could not be exploited automatically when visiting a Web site using Word 2000, Office 2000 does not prompt the user to Open, Save, or Cancel before opening a document…
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Workarounds for Microsoft PowerPoint Remote Code Execution Using a Malformed Record Vulnerability - CVE-2006-0022:

Microsoft has tested the following workarounds. While these workarounds will not correct the underlying vulnerability, they help block known attack vectors. When a workaround reduces functionality, it is identified in the following section.

Do not open or save Microsoft PowerPoint files that you receive from un-trusted sources.
This vulnerability could be exploited when a user opens a file.
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FAQ for Microsoft PowerPoint Remote Code Execution Using a Malformed Record Vulnerability - CVE-2006-0022:

What is the scope of the vulnerability?
This is a remote code execution vulnerability. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could remotely take complete control of an affected system.

If a user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability 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 affected than users who operate with administrative user rights.

What causes the vulnerability?
When PowerPoint opens a specially crafted PowerPoint file using a malformed record, it may corrupt system memory in such a way that an attacker could execute arbitrary code.

What might an attacker use the vulnerability to do?
An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of the affected system.

How could an attacker exploit the vulnerability?
In a Web-based attack scenario, an attacker would have to host a Web site that contains an Office file that is used to attempt to exploit this vulnerability. An attacker would have no way to force users to visit a malicious Web site. Instead, an attacker would have to persuade them to visit the Web site, typically by getting them to click a link that takes them to the attacker's site.

In an e-mail attack scenario, an attacker could exploit the vulnerability by sending a specially crafted file to the user and by persuading the user to open the file.

Could I automatically be exploited when visiting a Web site using PowerPoint 2000?
While this vulnerability could not be exploited automatically when visiting a Web site using PowerPoint 2000, Office 2000 does not prompt the user to Open, Save, or Cancel before opening a document.

What systems are primarily at risk from the vulnerability?
Workstations and terminal servers are primarily at risk. Servers could be at more risk if users who do not have sufficient administrative permissions are given the ability to log on to servers and to run programs. However, best practices strongly discourage allowing this.

What does the update do?
The update removes the vulnerability by modifying the way that PowerPoint validates the length of a message before it passes the message to the allocated buffer.

When this security bulletin was issued, had this vulnerability been publicly disclosed?
No. Microsoft received information about this vulnerability through responsible disclosure. Microsoft had not received any information to indicate that this vulnerability had been publicly disclosed when this security bulletin was originally issued.

When this security bulletin was issued, had Microsoft received any reports that this vulnerability was being exploited?
No. Microsoft had not received any information to indicate that this vulnerability had been publicly used to attack customers and had not seen any examples of proof of concept code published when this security bulletin was originally issued.

Acknowledgments

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

Nicolas Ruff, Fabrice Desclaux and Kostya Kortchinsky of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company for reporting the Microsoft PowerPoint Remote Code Execution Using a Malformed Record Vulnerability - CVE-2006-0022.
•

Elia Florio of Symantec for reporting the Microsoft PowerPoint Remote Code Execution Using a Malformed Record Vulnerability - CVE-2006-0022.
•

Dejun Meng of Fortinet Security Response Team for working with Microsoft on the Microsoft PowerPoint Remote Code Execution Using a Malformed Record Vulnerability - CVE-2006-0022.

Revisions:
•

V1.0 June 13, 2006: Bulletin published.