Microsoft security alert.

Advisory overview

Qualys Vulnerability R&D Lab has released new vulnerability checks in the Qualys Cloud Platform to protect organizations against 3 vulnerabilities that were fixed in 2 bulletins announced today by Microsoft. Customers can immediately audit their networks for these and other new vulnerabilities by accessing their Qualys subscription. Visit Qualys Security Blog to prioritize remediation.

Non-Qualys customers can audit their network for these and other vulnerabilities by signing up for a Qualys Free Trial, or by trying Qualys Community Edition.

Vulnerability details

Microsoft has released 2 security bulletins to fix newly discovered flaws in their software. Qualys has released the following checks for these new vulnerabilities:

• Microsoft Windows Backup Manager Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (MS11-001)

  Severity

  Critical 4

  Qualys ID

  90676

  Vendor Reference

  MS11-001

  CVE Reference

  CVE-2010-3145

  CVSS Scores

  Base 9.3 / Temporal 7.3

  Description

  The Windows Backup Manager (sdclt.exe) allows users to restore a computer's system files to an earlier point in time.

  A remote code execution vulnerability is caused when the Windows Backup Manager incorrectly restricts the path used for loading external libraries.

  Microsoft has released a security update that addresses the vulnerability by correcting the manner in which Windows Backup Manager loads external libraries.

  The security update is rated Important for all supported editions of Windows Vista.

  Consequence

  An attacker who successfully exploits 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.

  Solution

  Patch:
  Following are links for downloading patches to fix this vulnerability:

  Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2

  Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 1 and Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2

  Refer to Microsoft Security Bulletin MS11-001 for further details.

  Workarounds:
  1) Disable loading of libraries from WebDAV and remote network shares. Refer to Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2264107 for further information.

  2) Disable the WebClient service to help protect affected systems from attempts to exploit the vulnerability by blocking the most likely remote attack vector through the Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV) client service.

  Impact of workaround #2: When the WebClient service is disabled, Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV) requests are not transmitted.

  3) Block TCP ports 139 and 445 at the firewall

  Impact of workaround #3: Several Windows services use the affected ports. Blocking connectivity to the ports may cause various applications or services to not function.

  Further information on enabling and disabling the workarounds can be found at Microsoft Security Bulletin MS11-001.

• Microsoft Data Access Components Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (MS11-002)

  Severity

  Urgent 5

  Qualys ID

  90677

  Vendor Reference

  MS11-002

  CVE Reference

  CVE-2011-0026, CVE-2011-0027

  CVSS Scores

  Base 9.3 / Temporal 7.3

  Description

  Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) is a collection of components that make it easy for programs to access databases and then to manipulate the data within them.

  A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that Microsoft Data Access Components validates third-party API usage. This vulnerability could allow code execution if a user visits a specially-crafted Web page. (CVE-2011-0026)

  A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that Microsoft Data Access Components validates memory allocation. This vulnerability could allow code execution if a user visits a specially-crafted Web page. (CVE-2011-0027)

  Microsoft has released a security update that addresses these vulnerabilities by ensuring that MDAC correctly validates string length and memory allocation.

  This security update is rated Critical for all supported editions of Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7, and Important for all supported editions of Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 R2.

  Windows Embedded Systems:- For additional information regarding security updates for embedded systems, refer to the following MSDN blog(s):

  January 2011 Security Updates for XPe and Standard 2009 Runtimes Are Now Available on ECE (KB2451910, 2451910)
  

  Consequence

  Successfully exploiting these vulnerabilities might allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code.

  Solution

  Patch:
  Following are links for downloading patches to fix the vulnerabilities:

  Windows XP Service Pack 3 (Microsoft Data Access Components 2.8 Service Pack 1)

  Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2 (Microsoft Data Access Components 2.8 Service Pack 2)

  Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (Microsoft Data Access Components 2.8 Service Pack 2)

  Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2 (Microsoft Data Access Components 2.8 Service Pack 2)

  Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems (Microsoft Data Access Components 2.8 Service Pack 2)

  Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (Windows Data Access Components 6.0)

  Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 1 and Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2 (Windows Data Access Components 6.0)

  Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems and Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Windows Data Access Components 6.0)

  Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems and Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Windows Data Access Components 6.0)

  Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems and Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Windows Data Access Components 6.0)

  Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems (Windows Data Access Components 6.0)

  For a complete list of patch download links, please refer to Microsoft Security Bulletin MS11-002.

  Workarounds:
  1) Set Internet and Local intranet security zone settings to "High" to prompt before running ActiveX Controls and Active Scripting

  2) Configure Internet Explorer to prompt before running Active Scripting or to disable Active Scripting in the Internet and Local intranet security zone

  Impact of workarounds #1 and #2:
  On visiting Web sites on the Internet or Intranet that use ActiveX or Active Scripting to provide additional functionality, you will be prompted frequently when you enable this workaround.

  3) Disable the ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) DLL

  Impact of workaround #3: Disabling the ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) DLL will break MDAC functionality.

Access for Qualys Customers

Platforms and Platform Identification

Technical Support

For more information, customers may contact Qualys Technical Support.

About Qualys

The Qualys Cloud Platform and its integrated suite of security and compliance applications provides organizations of all sizes with a global view of their security and compliance solutions, while drastically reducing their total cost of ownership. Qualys solutions include: continuous monitoring, vulnerability management, policy compliance, PCI compliance, security assessment questionnaire, web application scanning, web application firewall, malware detection and SECURE Seal for security testing of web sites.