PowerPoint File Parsing Vulnerability

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              AUSCERT External Security Bulletin Redistribution

           ESB-2001.035 -- Microsoft Security Bulletin MS01-002
                   PowerPoint File Parsing Vulnerability
                              25 January 2001

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        AusCERT Security Bulletin Summary
        ---------------------------------

Product:                PowerPoint 2000
Vendor:                 Microsoft
Operating System:       Windows
Impact:                 Execute Arbitrary Code/Commands
Access Required:        Remote

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Title:  PowerPoint File Parsing Vulnerability
Date:           January 22, 2001
Software:       PowerPoint 2000
Impact: Execution of Arbitrary Code
Bulletin:       MS01-002

Microsoft encourages customers to review the Security Bulletin at:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms01-002.asp
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Issue:
======
A parsing routine that is executed when PowerPoint 2000 opens files
contains an unchecked buffer. If an attacker inserted specially
chosen data into a PowerPoint file and could entice another user into
opening the file on his machine, the data would overrun the buffer,
causing either of two effects. In the less serious case, overrunning
the data would cause PowerPoint to fail, but wouldn't have any other
effect. In the more serious case, overrunning the buffer could allow
the attacker to cause code of her choice to run on the user's
machine. The code could take any action that the user himself could
take on the machine. Typically, this would enable the attacker's code
to add, change or delete data, communicate with a remote server, or
take other actions.

Mitigating Factors:
===================
 - The user would need to be enticed into opening a malformed
   PowerPoint file

Patch Availability:
===================
 - A patch is available to fix this vulnerability. Please read
   Security Bulletin MS01-002 at:
   http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms01-002.asp
   for information on obtaining this patch.

Acknowledgment:
===============
 - Dave Aitel and Frank Swiderski of @Stake (http://www.atstake.com)

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THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED
"AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL
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 DAMAGES. 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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