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CIAC INFORMATION BULLETIN

S-374: Vulnerability in Windows Media Player

[Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS08-054)]

September 9, 2008 19:00 GMT
PROBLEM: A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Windows Media Player 11. An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by constructing a specially crafted audio file that could allow remote code execution when streamed from a Windows Media server using Windows Media Player 11.
PLATFORM: Windows XP (all editions)
Windows Vista (all editions)
Windows Server 208 (all editions)
DAMAGE: Remote code execution.
SOLUTION: Upgrade to the appropriate version.
VULNERABILITY
ASSESSMENT:		 The risk is MEDIUM. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system.
CVSS 2 BASE SCORE:
   TEMPORAL SCORE:
   VECTOR:		 7.5
6.2
(AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P/E:F/RL:OF/RC:C)
LINKS:  
  CIAC BULLETIN: http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/s-374.shtml
  ORIGINAL BULLETIN: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS08-054.mspx
  CVE: CVE-2008-2253 
[***** Start Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS08-054) *****]

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-054 – Critical

Vulnerability in Windows Media Player Could Allow Remote Code Execution (954154)

Published: September 9, 2008

Version: 1.0

General Information

Executive Summary

This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Windows Media Player that could allow remote code execution when a specially crafted audio file is streamed from a Windows Media server. 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 impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.

This security update is rated Critical for all supported and affected editions of Windows Media Player 11. For more information, see the subsection, Affected and Non-Affected Software, in this section.

The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting the manner in which Windows Media Player 11 handles audio files streamed from a server-side playlist (SSPL). For more information about the vulnerability, see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) subsection for the specific vulnerability entry under the next section, Vulnerability Information.

Recommendation.  Microsoft recommends that customers apply the update immediately.

Known Issues. None

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Affected and Non-Affected Software

The following software have been tested to determine which versions or editions are affected. Other versions or editions are either past their support life cycle or are not affected. To determine the support life cycle for your software version or edition, visit Microsoft Support Lifecycle.

Affected Software 

Operating System Component Maximum Security Impact Aggregate Severity Rating Bulletins Replaced by this Update

Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows XP Service Pack 3

Windows Media Player 11

Remote Code Execution

Critical

None

Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2

Windows Media Player 11

Remote Code Execution

Critical

None

Windows Vista and Windows Vista Service Pack 1

Windows Media Player 11

Remote Code Execution

Critical

None

Windows Vista x64 Edition and Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 1

Windows Media Player 11

Remote Code Execution

Critical

None

Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems*

Windows Media Player 11

Remote Code Execution

Critical

None

Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems*

Windows Media Player 11

Remote Code Execution

Critical

None

*Windows Server 2008 server core installation not affected. The vulnerability addressed by this update does not affect supported editions of Windows Server 2008 if Windows Server 2008 was installed using the Server Core installation option, even though the files affected by this vulnerability may be present on the system. However, users with the affected files will still be offered this update because the update files are newer (with higher version numbers) than the files that are currently on your system. For more information on this installation option, see Server Core. Note that the Server Core installation option does not apply to certain editions of Windows Server 2008; see Compare Server Core Installation Options.

Non-Affected Software

Operating System Component

Windows 2000 Service Pack 4

Windows Media Player 6.4

Windows 2000 Service Pack 4

Windows Media Player 7.1

Windows 2000 Service Pack 4

Windows Media Player 9

Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows XP Service Pack 3

Windows Media Player 6.4

Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows XP Service Pack 3

Windows Media Player 9

Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows XP Service Pack 3

Windows Media Player 10

Windows Vista x64 Edition and Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 1

Windows Media Player 10

Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2

Windows Media Player 6.4

Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2

Windows Media Player 10

Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition and Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2

Windows Media Player 10

Windows Server 2003 with SP1 for Itanium-based Systems and Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems

N/A

Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems

N/A

Vulnerability Information

Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers
Vulnerability Severity Rating and Maximum Security Impact by Affected Software
Affected Software Windows Media Player Sampling Rate Vulnerability - CVE-2008-2253 Aggregate Severity Rating

Windows Media Player 11 on Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows XP Service Pack 3

Critical
Remote Code Execution

Critical

Windows Media Player 11 on Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2

Critical
Remote Code Execution

Critical

Windows Media Player 11 on Windows Vista and Windows Vista Service Pack 1

Critical
Remote Code Execution

Critical

Windows Media Player 11 on Windows Vista x64 Edition and Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 1

Critical
Remote Code Execution

Critical

Windows Media Player 11 on Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems*

Critical
Remote Code Execution

Critical

Windows Media Player 11 on Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems*

Critical
Remote Code Execution

Critical

*Windows Server 2008 server core installation not affected. The vulnerability addressed by this update does not affect supported editions of Windows Server 2008 if Windows Server 2008 was installed using the Server Core installation option, even though the files affected by this vulnerability may be present on the system. However, users with the affected files will still be offered this update because the update files are newer (with higher version numbers) than the files that are currently on your system. For more information on this installation option, see Server Core. Note that the Server Core installation option does not apply to certain editions of Windows Server 2008; see Compare Server Core Installation Options.

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Windows Media Player Sampling Rate Vulnerability - CVE-2008-2253

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Windows Media Player 11. An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by constructing a specially crafted audio file that could allow remote code execution when streamed from a Windows Media server using Windows Media Player 11. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system.

To view this vulnerability as a standard entry in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures list, see CVE-2008-2253.

Update Information

Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance

Manage the software and security updates you need to deploy to the servers, desktop, and mobile systems in your organization. For more information see the TechNet Update Management Center. The Microsoft TechNet Security Web site provides additional information about security in Microsoft products.

Security updates are available from Microsoft Update, Windows Update, and Office Update. Security updates are also available from the Microsoft Download Center. You can find them most easily by doing a keyword search for "security update."

Finally, security updates can be downloaded from the Microsoft Update Catalog. The Microsoft Update Catalog provides a searchable catalog of content made available through Windows Update and Microsoft Update, including security updates, drivers and service packs. By searching using the security bulletin number (such as, “MS07-036”), you can add all of the applicable updates to your basket (including different languages for an update), and download to the folder of your choosing. For more information about the Microsoft Update Catalog, see the Microsoft Update Catalog FAQ.

Detection and Deployment Guidance

Microsoft has provided detection and deployment guidance for this month’s security updates. This guidance will also help IT professionals understand how they can use various tools to help deploy the security update, such as Windows Update, Microsoft Update, Office Update, the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA), the Office Detection Tool, Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS), and the Extended Security Update Inventory Tool. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 910723.

Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer

Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) allows administrators to scan local and remote systems for missing security updates as well as common security misconfigurations. For more information about MBSA, visit Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer.

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

Software MBSA 2.1

Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows XP Service Pack 3

Yes

Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2

Yes

Windows Vista and Windows Vista Service Pack 1

Yes

Windows Vista x64 Edition and Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 1

Yes

Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems

Yes

Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems

Yes

For more information about MBSA 2.1, see MBSA 2.1 Frequently Asked Questions.

Windows Server Update Services

By using Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), administrators can deploy the latest critical updates and security updates for Windows 2000 operating systems and later, Office XP and later, Exchange Server 2003, and SQL Server 2000. For more information about how to deploy this security update using Windows Server Update Services, visit the Windows Server Update Services Web site.

Systems Management Server

The following table provides the SMS detection and deployment summary for this security update.

Software SMS 2.0 SMS 2003 with SUSFP SMS 2003 with ITMU Configuration Manager 2007

Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows XP Service Pack 3

No

No

Yes

Yes

Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2

No

No

Yes

Yes

Windows Vista and Windows Vista Service Pack 1

No

No

See Note for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 below

Yes

Windows Vista x64 Edition and Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 1

No

No

See Note for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 below

Yes

Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems

No

No

See Note for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 below

Yes

Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems

No

No

See Note for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 below

Yes

For SMS 2.0 and SMS 2003, the SMS SUS Feature Pack (SUSFP), which includes the Security Update Inventory Tool (SUIT), can be used by SMS to detect security updates. See also Downloads for Systems Management Server 2.0.

For SMS 2003, the SMS 2003 Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates (ITMU) 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 ITMU, see SMS 2003 Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates. SMS 2003 can also use the Microsoft Office Inventory Tool to detect required updates for Microsoft Office applications. For more information about the Office Inventory Tool and other scanning tools, see SMS 2003 Software Update Scanning Tools. See also Downloads for Systems Management Server 2003.

System Center Configuration Manager 2007 uses WSUS 3.0 for detection of updates. For more information about Configuration Manager 2007 Software Update Management, visit System Center Configuration Manager 2007.

Note for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 with Service Pack 3 includes support for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 manageability.

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

For more detailed information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 910723: Summary list of monthly detection and deployment guidance articles.

Security Update Deployment

Affected Software

For information about the specific security update for your affected software, click the appropriate link:

* Windows XP (all editions)
* Windows Vista (all editions)
* Windows Server 2008 (all editions)

Other Information

Support

•

Customers in the U.S. and Canada can receive technical support from Microsoft Product Support Services at 1-866-PCSAFETY. There is no charge for support calls that are associated with security updates.
•

International customers can receive support from their local Microsoft subsidiaries. There is no charge for support that is associated with security updates. For more information about how to contact Microsoft for support issues, visit the International Support Web site.
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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.

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Revisions

•

V1.0 (September 9, 2008): Bulletin published.

 


[***** End Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS08-054) *****]
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