US-CERT TA08-189A -- Microsoft Office Snapshot Viewer ActiveX Vulnerability

Concerns MS Office ActiveX vulnerabilities and describes work-around to
issues,


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National Cyber Alert System

Technical Cyber Security Alert TA08-189A


Microsoft Office Snapshot Viewer ActiveX Vulnerability

Original release date: July 7, 2008
Last revised: --
Source: US-CERT


Systems Affected

* Microsoft Office Access 2000
* Microsoft Office Access XP
* Microsoft Office Access 2003
* Microsoft Office Snapshot Viewer


Overview

An unpatched vulnerability in the Microsoft Office Snapshot Viewer
ActiveX
control is being used in attacks.


I. Description

Microsoft has released Security Advisory (955179) to describe attacks on
a
vulnerability in the Microsoft Office Snapshot Viewer ActiveX control.
Because no fix is currently available for this vulnerability, please see
the
Security Advisory and US-CERT Vulnerability Note VU#837785 for
workarounds.


II. Impact

A remote, unauthenticated attacker could execute arbitrary code.


III. Solution

Apply workarounds

Microsoft has provided workarounds for this vulnerability in Security
Advisory (955179). Additional details and workarounds are provided in
US-CERT Vulnerability Note VU#837785.

The most effective workaround for this vulnerability is to set kill bits
for
the Snapshot Viewer ActiveX control, as outlined in the documents noted
above. Other workarounds include disabling ActiveX, as specified in the
Securing Your Web Browser document, and upgrading to Internet Explorer 7,
which can help mitigate the vulnerability with its ActiveX opt-in
feature.


IV. References

* US-CERT Vulnerability Note VU#837785 -
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/837785

* Microsoft Security Advisory (955179) -
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/955179.mspx

* Securing Your Web Browser -
http://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/securing_browser/


__________________________________________________ __________________

The most recent version of this document can be found at:

http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA08-189A.html
__________________________________________________ __________________

Feedback can be directed to US-CERT Technical Staff. Please send
email to with "TA08-189A Feedback VU#837785" in the
subject.
__________________________________________________ __________________

For instructions on subscribing to or unsubscribing from this
mailing list, visit http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/signup.html.
__________________________________________________ __________________

Produced 2008 by US-CERT, a government organization.

Terms of use:

http://www.us-cert.gov/legal.html
__________________________________________________ __________________


Revision History

July 7, 2008: Initial release




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