Microsoft Security Bulletin MS01-028

[Microsoft Product Security <secnotif () MICROSOFT COM>]

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Title:      RTF document linked to template can run macros without
            warning
Date:       21 May 2001
Software:   Microsoft Word for Windows and Word for the Mac
Impact:     Run Macros without warning
Bulletin:   MS01-028

Microsoft encourages customers to review the Security Bulletin at: 
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-028.asp.
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Issue:
======
Word, like other members of the Office product family, provides a 
security mechanism that requires user's approval to run macros. By 
design, anytime a document is opened the user would be notified if
the 
document contains macros. In addition, this mechanism checks
secondary 
documents that the original document links to, such as templates, and
warn if any of those contain macros. This feature works by scanning
the 
document or template for the presence of macros, alerting the user of
their presence, and then asking the user if he wants to allow the 
macros to run.
 
By embedding a macro in a template, and providing another user with
an 
RTF document that links to it, an attacker could cause a macro to run
automatically when the RTF document was opened. The macro would be
able 
to take any action that the user herself could take. This could
include 
disabling the user's Word security settings so that
subsequently-opened 
Word documents would no longer be checked for macros. 

Mitigating Factors:
====================
 - The vulnerability only affects Word. Other Office products are not
   affected. 
 - The vulnerability does not occur when opening Word documents, only
   when opening RTF documents, and even then only when the RTF
document
   is linked to a template. 

Patch Availability:
===================
 - A patch is available to fix this vulnerability. Please read the 
   Security Bulletin
   http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms01-028.asp
   for information on obtaining this patch.

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WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF 
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT
SHALL 
MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES 
WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL,
LOSS 
OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION
OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
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SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR
CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY
NOT 
APPLY.



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