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Vulnerability: MS09-047 - Vulnerabilities in Windows Media Format Could Allow Remote Code Execution (973812)

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 Details
Vulnerability name/brief description

MS09-047 - Vulnerabilities in Windows Media Format Could Allow Remote Code Execution (973812)

CVE/CAN name

CVE-2009-2498, CVE-2009-2499

Vendor threat levelCritical
SophosLabs threat levelMedium
Solution

MS09-047

Vendor description

This security update resolves two privately reported vulnerabilities in Windows Media Format. Either vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a user opened a specially crafted media file. 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.

The security update addresses the vulnerabilities by modifying the way that Windows Media Format Runtime parses Advanced Systems Format (ASF) files and MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3) files.

SophosLabs commentsVulnerabilities in media formats are always a hot target for malware authors since they are passed around so freely on social networking and file-sharing web sites. However, no exploits of these vulnerabilities are currently known and Microsoft has resolved the security flaw with the release of MS09-047. SophosLabs currently categorise these vulnerabilities as medium level threats.
SophosLabs testing resultN/A
Currently known exploitsAt the time of writing SophosLabs has seen no samples of malware or web-content attempting to exploit this vulnerability. Should this situation change samples will be analyzed and we will take action as necessary.
First sample seenN/A
Discovery date08 September 2009
Affected software

Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
Windows XP Service Pack 2
Windows XP Service Pack 3
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2
Windows Vista, Windows Vista Service Pack 1, and Windows Vista Service Pack 2
Windows Vista x64 Edition, Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 1, and Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems and Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2**
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems and Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2**
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems and Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2*
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems and Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2*

*Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation affected.
**Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation not affected.

Referenceshttp://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS09-047.mspx
http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2009-2498
http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2009-2499
CreditsMicrosoft MAPP program
Revisions09 September 2009 - Initial analysis written

Explanation of terms

Vulnerability Name/Brief Description:
Vendor identifier plus a brief description of the type of attack.

CVE/CAN Name:
Currently assigned CVE name. If a CVE name doesn't exist the CAN name will be used until a CVE has been assigned.

Vendor Threat Level:

Threat level assigned by the vendor

SophosLabs Threat Level:
Threat level assigned by SophosLabs

  • LOW RISK - There is little chance of this vulnerability being actively exploited by malware.
  • MEDIUM RISK - There is a possibility of this vulnerability being actively exploited by malware.
  • HIGH RISK - There is a strong possibility of this vulnerability being actively exploited by malware.
  • CRITICAL RISK - This vulnerability will almost certainly be actively exploited by malware.

Solution:
Vendor-supplied Patch identifier and recommended solution, or workaround if applicable.

Vendor Description:
Summary of the cause and potential effect of the vulnerability provided by the vendor.

SophosLabs Comments:
SophosLabs' opinions and observations of the vulnerability in question.

SophosLabs Testing Result:
Details of completed lab testing, if applicable. Please note that the lab test environment may differ significantly from user environments.

Currently Known Exploits:
List of identities for known exploits, if applicable.

First Sample Seen:
Date of the first sample seen by SophosLabs.

Discovery Date:
Date of the earliest known publically disclosed advisory.

Affected Software:
Vulnerable platforms and software versions.

 

 

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