Additional technical information to describe the Microsoft .NET Framework Windows forms processing buffer overflow vulnerability is available.
Description
Microsoft .NET Framework contains a vulnerability that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on a targeted system.
The vulnerability is due to improper validation of user-supplied input processed by the affected software. An unauthenticated, remote attacker could exploit the vulnerability by convincing a user to visit a malicious website. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system.
Microsoft confirmed the vulnerability in a security bulletin and released software updates.
Warning Indicators
Microsoft .NET Framework 1.0 SP3, 1.1 SP1, 2.0 SP2, 3.0 SP2, 3.5, 3.5.1, 4, and 4.5 are vulnerable when running on the following systems:
Windows XP SP3
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition SP2
Windows Server 2003 SP2
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition SP2
Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems
Windows Vista SP2
Windows Vista x64 Edition SP2
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems SP2
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems SP2
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems SP2
Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems SP1 and prior
Windows 7 for x64-based Systems SP1 and prior
Windows 8 for 32-bit Systems
Windows 8 for x64-based Systems
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems SP1 and prior
Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems SP1 and prior
Windows Server 2012
Windows RT
IntelliShield Analysis
To exploit the vulnerability, the attacker may provide a link that directs a user to a malicious site and use misleading language or instructions to persuade the user to follow the provided link.
Microsoft has corrected this vulnerability by correcting how the .NET Framework copies objects in memory.
The Cisco Applied Intelligence team has created an Applied Mitigation Bulletin to address vulnerabilities that Microsoft disclosed in the January 2013 security bulletin release. This Cisco bulletin, which assists administrators in identifying or mitigating these vulnerabilities using Cisco devices, is available at the following link: Cisco Applied Mitigation Bulletin: Microsoft Security Bulletin Release for January 2013
Vendor Announcements
Microsoft has released a security bulletin at the following link: MS13-004
Impact
An unauthenticated, remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on a targeted system. If the user holds elevated privileges, a complete system compromise could be possible.
Technical Information
The vulnerability is in the System.Drawing.Imaging.EncoderParameters.ConvertToMemory() method inside the .NET Framework. The affected software improperly allocates an array using the value of the this.param.Length parameter and uses a loop terminated by the same parameter to fill the array with data. Insufficient validation of the this.param.Length parameter value between the array creation and loop could cause a heap buffer overflow, which could lead to a memory corruption error.
An unauthenticated, remote attacker could exploit the vulnerability by persuading a user to visit a malicious website. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system.
Safeguards
Administrators are advised to apply the appropriate updates.
Users are advised not to open e-mail messages from suspicious or unrecognized sources. If users cannot verify that links or attachments included in e-mail messages are safe, they are advised not to open them.
Administrators may consider using the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) scan tool to identify common security misconfigurations and missing security updates on system endpoints.
Administrators are advised to monitor affected systems.
Patches/Software
Microsoft customers can obtain updates directly by using the links in the security bulletin. These updates are also distributed by Windows automatic update features and available on the Microsoft Update service. Microsoft Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), Systems Management Server, and System Center Configuration Manager can assist administrators in deploying software updates.
Alert History
Version 1, January 8, 2013, 09:22 AM: Microsoft .NET Framework contains a vulnerability that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to gain elevated privileges on a targeted system. Updates are available.
Datacenter Edition SP2 | Datacenter Edition, 64-bit SP2 | Enterprise Edition SP2 | Enterprise Edition, 64-bit SP2 | Essential Business Server Premium SP2 | Essential Business Server Premium, 64-bit SP2 | Essential Business Server Standard SP2 | Itanium-Based Systems Edition SP2 | Standard Edition SP2 | Standard Edition, 64-bit SP2 | Web Server SP2 | Web Server, 64-bit SP2
Microsoft, Inc.
Windows Server 2008 R2
Itanium-Based Systems Edition Base, SP1 | x64-Based Systems Edition Base, SP1
Microsoft, Inc.
Windows Server 2012
Original Release Base
Microsoft, Inc.
Windows Vista
Business SP2 | Business x64 Edition SP2 | Enterprise SP2 | Enterprise x64 Edition SP2 | Home Basic SP2 | Home Basic x64 Edition SP2 | Home Premium SP2 | Home Premium x64 Edition SP2 | Ultimate SP2 | Ultimate x64 Edition SP2
Microsoft, Inc.
Windows XP
Home Edition SP3 | Media Center Edition 2005, SP3 | Professional Edition SP3 | Professional x64 (AMD/EM64T) SP2 | Tablet PC Edition 2005, SP3
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