Multiple Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows

Systems Affected

Windows 98, Me, 2000, XP, and Server 2003

Internet Explorer 5.x and 6.x

Other Windows programs that use MSHTML

Overview

An attacker may be able to take control of your computer by taking advantage of two different vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer and Windows.

Description

There is a vulnerability in the way Internet Explorer processes certain HTML code. There is also a vulnerability in the way Microsoft Windows handles certain images. By exploiting either vulnerability, an attacker may be able to take control of your computer.

Reports indicate that one of these vulnerabilities is being exploited by malicious code referred to as Phel.

Resolution

Apply an update

Install the updates as described in Microsoft Security Bulletins MS05-001 and MS05-002. Obtain the appropriate updates from Windows Update or by using Automatic Updates.

References

• US-CERT Technical Alert TA05-012A - <http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA05-012A.html>
• US-CERT Technical Alert TA05-012B - <http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA05-012B.html>
• Vulnerability Note VU#972415 - <http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/972415>
• Vulnerability Note VU#625856 - <http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/625856>

Copyright 2005 Carnegie Mellon University. Terms of use

Revision History

January 12, 2005: Initial release