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Vulnerability: MS09-052 - Critical Vulnerability in Windows Media Player Could Allow Remote Code Execution (974112)

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 Details
Vulnerability name/brief description

MS09-052 - Critical Vulnerability in Windows Media Player Could Allow Remote Code Execution (974112)

CVE/CAN name

CVE-2009-2527

Vendor threat levelCritical
SophosLabs threat levelMedium
Solution

MS09-052

Vendor descriptionThis security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Windows Media Player. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a specially crafted ASF file is played using Windows Media Player 6.4.
SophosLabs comments

Media file formats are a common target of malware authors due to their increased liklihood of being passed around amongst friends via email or file sharing neworks. The risk to the corporate environment largely depends on the computing practices of employees and the IT restrictions put in place by system administrators but is thought to be lower than that of home users.

This particular vulnerability only affects one version of Windows Media Player (6.4) so the scope of an attack is limited only to users running that particular version. SophosLabs has assessed this vulnerability as a medium level threat.

SophosLabs testing resultN/A
Currently known exploitsAt the time of writing SophosLabs have not observed any malware 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 date13 october 2009
Affected softwareMicrosoft Windows Media Player 6.4 on Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
Microsoft Windows Media Player 6.4 on Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows XP Service Pack 3
Microsoft Windows Media Player 6.4 on Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2
Microsoft Windows Media Player 6.4 on Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2
Microsoft Windows Media Player 6.4 on Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2
References

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS09-052.mspx

http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2009-2527

CreditsMicrosoft MAPP
Revisions14 October 2009 - Initial advisory 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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