Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-008: Flaw in Windows Script Engine Could Allow Code Execution (814078)

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Title:      Flaw in Windows Script Engine Could Allow Code 
                Execution (814078)
Date:       19 March 2003
Software:   Microsoft Windows 98 
              Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition 
              Microsoft Windows Me 
              Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 
              Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition 
              Microsoft Windows 2000 
              Microsoft Windows XP 
Impact:     Run Code of Attacker's Choice 
Max Risk:   Critical
Bulletin:   MS03-008

Microsoft encourages customers to review the Security Bulletins at: 
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-008.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/security/security_bulletins/ms03-008.asp
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Issue:
======
The Windows Script Engine provides Windows operating systems with 
the ability to execute script code. Script code can be used to add 
functionality to web pages, or to automate tasks within the 
operating system or within a program. Script code can be written in 
several different scripting languages, such as Visual Basic Script, 
or JScript.

A flaw exists in the way by which the Windows Script Engine for 
JScript processes information. An attacker could exploit the 
vulnerability by constructing a web page that, when visited by the 
user, would execute code of the attacker's choice with the user's 
privileges. The web page could be hosted on a web site, or sent 
directly to the user in email. 

Although Microsoft has supplied a patch for this vulnerability and 
recommends all affected customers install the patch immediately, 
additional preventive measures have been provided that customers 
can use to help block the exploitation of this vulnerability while 
they are assessing the impact and compatibility of the patch. These 
temporary workarounds are discussed in the "Workarounds" section in 
the Frequently Asked Questions section of the security bulletin for 
this release. 


Mitigating Factors:
====================
 - For an attack to be successful, the user would need to visit a 
   website under the attacker's control or receive an HTML e-mail   
   from the attacker. 
 - Computers configured to disable active scripting in Internet 
   Explorer are not susceptible to this issue. 
 - Exploiting the vulnerability would allow the attacker only the  
   same privileges as the user. Users whose accounts are configured 
   to have few privileges on the system would be at less risk than 
   ones who operate with administrative privileges. 
 - Automatic exploitation of the vulnerability by an HTML email 
   would be blocked by Outlook Express 6.0 and Outlook 2002 in 
   their default configurations, and by Outlook 98 and 2000 if used 
   in conjunction with the Outlook Email Security Update. 


Risk Rating:
============
 - Critical

Patch Availability:
===================
 - A patch is available to fix this vulnerability. Please read the 
   Security Bulletins at

 http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms03-008.asp
 http://www.microsoft.com/security/security_bulletins/ms03-008.asp

   for information on obtaining this patch.


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