An information-disclosure vulnerability exists that could
allow an attacker to read files on the local file system of a user who visits a
specially malformed web site.
The attacker would not be able to add,
change, or delete files. In addition, the attacker would not be able to use
e-mail to carry out this attack; the vulnerability can only be exploited by way
of a Web site. Customers who exercise caution when browsing and avoid visiting
unknown or untrustworthy sites are at less risk from this vulnerability.
The vulnerability exists because the XMLHTTP control in the
Microsoft XML Core Services does not respect the Internet Explorer Security
Zone restrictions. This enables a Web page to specify a file on a user's local
system as an XML data source as a means of reading the file.
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that you determine are at risk of attack. Evaluate the computer's physical accessibility, network and Internet connectivity, and other factors to determine the degree of risk to the computer. See the associated
Microsoft Security Bulletin
(http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-008.mspx)
to help determine the degree of risk. This hotfix may receive additional testing. If the computer is sufficiently at risk, we recommend that you apply this hotfix now.
To resolve this problem immediately, download the hotfix by following the instructions later in this article or contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled, if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question. The following file is available for
download from the Microsoft Download Center:
Release Date:
February 21, 2002
For additional information about how to download
Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article
in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
119591Â
(http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=119591/EN-US/
)
How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services
Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most
current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file
was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to
prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.
The English version of this fix should have the
following file attributes or later:
Date Version Size File name Platform
--------------------------------------------------------
08-Jan-2002 8.2.8307.0 689,424 Msxml2.dll x86
To install the patch silently and without a restart, use the following switches: /q:a /c:"dahotfix /q /n"
Microsoft has
confirmed that this problem may cause a degree of security vulnerability in
Microsoft XML 2.0.
Affected versions of MSXML ship as part of several
products. You should apply the patch to systems with any of the following
Microsoft products:
- Microsoft Windows XP
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
- Microsoft SQL Server 2000
MSXML can also be installed separately. MSXML is installed as a
DLL in the System32 subfolder of the Windows operating system folder. On most
systems, this will likely be C:\Windows or C:\winnt. If you have any or all of
the following files in the System32 folder, you need the patch:
- Msxml2.dll
- Msxml3.dll
- Msxml4.dll
If you have only Msxml.dll, you do not need the patch because
this is an earlier, unaffected version.
For more information on this
vulnerability, see the following Microsoft Web site:
To install this hotfix in unattended mode, use the following
command line arguments.
Unattended installation of hotfix both
displaying "extracting hotfix dialog" and displaying a final reboot dialog:
Q318202_MSXML20_x86.exe /q /c:"dahotfix.exe /q"
Unattended completely silent installation of hotfix but
displaying a final reboot dialog:
Q318202_MSXML20_x86.exe /q:a /c:"dahotfix.exe /q"
Unattended completely silent installation of hotfix with final
reboot dialog suppressed:
Q318202_MSXML20_x86.exe /q:a /c:"dahotfix.exe /q /n"