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             AUSCERT External Security Bulletin Redistribution

                               ESB-2014.0599
   Vulnerability in Internet Explorer Could Allow Remote Code Execution
                               28 April 2014

===========================================================================

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

Product:           Internet Explorer
Publisher:         Microsoft
Operating System:  Windows
Impact/Access:     Execute Arbitrary Code/Commands -- Remote with User Interaction
Resolution:        Mitigation
CVE Names:         CVE-2014-1776  

Original Bulletin: 
   https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/2963983

Comment: Microsoft is aware of limited, targeted attacks that attempt to 
         exploit a vulnerability in Internet Explorer 6, Internet Explorer 7,
         Internet Explorer 8, Internet Explorer 9, Internet Explorer 10, and
         Internet Explorer 11.

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Microsoft Security Advisory 2963983

Vulnerability in Internet Explorer Could Allow Remote Code Execution

Published: April 26, 2014

Version: 1.0

General Information

Executive Summary

Microsoft is aware of limited, targeted attacks that attempt to exploit a 
vulnerability in Internet Explorer 6, Internet Explorer 7, Internet Explorer 
8, Internet Explorer 9, Internet Explorer 10, and Internet Explorer 11.

The vulnerability is a remote code execution vulnerability. The vulnerability
exists in the way that Internet Explorer accesses an object in memory that has
been deleted or has not been properly allocated. The vulnerability may corrupt
memory in a way that could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the
context of the current user within Internet Explorer. An attacker could host a
specially crafted website that is designed to exploit this vulnerability 
through Internet Explorer and then convince a user to view the website.

On completion of this investigation, Microsoft will take the appropriate 
action to protect our customers, which may include providing a solution 
through our monthly security update release process, or an out-of-cycle 
security update, depending on customer needs.

Mitigating Factors:

* By default, Internet Explorer on Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, 
Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2 runs 
in a restricted mode that is known as Enhanced Security Configuration. This 
mode mitigates this vulnerability.

* By default, all supported versions of Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Outlook 
Express, and Windows Mail open HTML email messages in the Restricted sites 
zone. The Restricted sites zone, which disables script and ActiveX controls, 
helps reduce the risk of an attacker being able to use this vulnerability to 
execute malicious code. If a user clicks a link in an email message, the user
could still be vulnerable to exploitation of this vulnerability through the 
web-based attack scenario.

* An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the 
same user rights as the current user. Users whose accounts are configured to 
have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who 
operate with administrative user rights.

* In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a website that 
contains a webpage that is used to exploit this vulnerability. In addition, 
compromised websites and websites that accept or host user-provided content or
advertisements could contain specially crafted content that could exploit this
vulnerability. In all cases, however, an attacker would have no way to force 
users to visit these websites. Instead, an attacker would have to convince 
users to visit the website, typically by getting them to click a link in an 
email message or Instant Messenger message that takes users to the attacker's
website.

Issue References

For more information about this issue, see the following references:

References Identification

CVE Reference CVE-2014-1776

Affected Software

Internet Explorer 6 
Internet Explorer 7 
Internet Explorer 8 
Internet Explorer 9 
Internet Explorer 10 
Internet Explorer 11 
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2 
Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems 
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 
Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2 
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2 
Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 
Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 
Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 1 
Windows 8 for 32-bit Systems 
Windows 8 for x64-based Systems 
Windows Server 2012 
Windows RT 
Windows 8.1 for 32-bit Systems 
Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems 
Windows Server 2012 R2 
Windows RT 8.1

Workarounds

*   	Deploy the Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit 4.1

The Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) helps mitigate the 
exploitation of this vulnerability by adding additional protection layers that
make the vulnerability harder to exploit. EMET 4.1 is officially supported by
Microsoft. At this time, EMET is only available in the English language. For 
more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2458544.

Note EMET 3.0 does not mitigate this issue.

For more information about configuring EMET, see the EMET User's Guide:

On 32-bit systems the EMET User's Guide is located in C:\Program 
Files\EMET\EMET User's Guide.pdf

On 64-bit systems the EMET User's Guide is located in C:\Program Files 
(x86)\EMET\EMET User's Guide.pdf

Configure EMET 4.1 for Internet Explorer

EMET 4.1, in the recommended configuration, is automatically configured to
help protect Internet Explorer. No additional steps are required.

Configure EMET for Internet Explorer using Group Policy

EMET can be configured using Group Policy. For information about 
configuring EMET using Group Policy, see the EMET User's Guide:

On 32-bit systems the EMET User's Guide is located in C:\Program 
Files\EMET\EMET User's Guide.pdf

On 64-bit systems the EMET User's Guide is located in C:\Program Files
(x86)\EMET\EMET User's Guide.pdf

Note For more information about Group Policy, see Group Policy collection.

*   	Set Internet and Local intranet security zone settings to "High" to 
        block ActiveX Controls and Active Scripting in these zones

You can help protect against exploitation of this vulnerability by 
changing your settings for the Internet security zone to block ActiveX 
controls and Active Scripting. You can do this by setting your browser 
security to High.

To raise the browsing security level in Internet Explorer, perform the 
following steps:

1. On the Internet Explorer Tools menu, click Internet Options.

2. In the Internet Options dialog box, click the Security tab, and then 
click Internet.

3. Under Security level for this zone, move the slider to High. This sets
the security level for all websites you visit to High.

4. Click Local intranet.

5. Under Security level for this zone, move the slider to High. This sets
the security level for all websites you visit to High.

6. Click OK to accept the changes and return to Internet Explorer.

Note If no slider is visible, click Default Level, and then move the 
slider to High.

Note Setting the level to High may cause some websites to work 
incorrectly. If you have difficulty using a website after you change this 
setting, and you are sure the site is safe to use, you can add that site to 
your list of trusted sites. This will allow the site to work correctly even 
with the security setting set to High.

Impact of workaround. There are side effects to blocking ActiveX Controls
and Active Scripting. Many websites that are on the Internet or on an intranet
use ActiveX or Active Scripting to provide additional functionality. For 
example, an online e-commerce site or banking site may use ActiveX Controls to
provide menus, ordering forms, or even account statements. Blocking ActiveX 
Controls or Active Scripting is a global setting that affects all Internet and
intranet sites. If you do not want to block ActiveX Controls or Active 
Scripting for such sites, use the steps outlined in "Add sites that you trust
to the Internet Explorer Trusted sites zone".

Add sites that you trust to the Internet Explorer Trusted sites zone

After you set Internet Explorer to block ActiveX controls and Active 
Scripting in the Internet zone and in the Local intranet zone, you can add 
sites that you trust to the Internet Explorer Trusted sites zone. This will 
allow you to continue to use trusted websites exactly as you do today, while 
helping to protect yourself from this attack on untrusted sites. We recommend
that you add only sites that you trust to the Trusted sites zone.

To do this, perform the following steps:

1. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, click Internet Options, and then 
click the Security tab.

2. In the Select a web content zone to specify its current security 
settings box, click Trusted Sites, and then click Sites.

3. If you want to add sites that do not require an encrypted channel, 
click to clear the Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this
zone check box.

4. In the Add this website to the zone box, type the URL of a site that 
you trust, and then click Add.

5. Repeat these steps for each site that you want to add to the zone.

6. Click OK two times to accept the changes and return to Internet 
Explorer.

Note Add any sites that you trust not to take malicious action on your 
system. Two in particular that you may want to add are 
*.windowsupdate.microsoft.com and *.update.microsoft.com. These are the sites
that will host the update, and it requires an ActiveX Control to install the 
update.

* 	Configure Internet Explorer to prompt before running Active Scripting 
        or to disable Active Scripting in the Internet and Local intranet 
        security zone

You can help protect against exploitation of this vulnerability by 
changing your settings to prompt before running Active Scripting or to disable
Active Scripting in the Internet and Local intranet security zone. To do this,
perform the following steps:

1. In Internet Explorer, click Internet Options on the Tools menu.

2. Click the Security tab.

3. Click Internet, and then click Custom Level.

4. Under Settings, in the Scripting section, under Active Scripting, 
click Prompt or Disable, and then click OK.

5. Click Local intranet, and then click Custom Level.

6. Under Settings, in the Scripting section, under Active Scripting, 
click Prompt or Disable, and then click OK.

7. Click OK two times to return to Internet Explorer.

Note Disabling Active Scripting in the Internet and Local intranet 
security zones may cause some websites to work incorrectly. If you have 
difficulty using a website after you change this setting, and you are sure the
site is safe to use, you can add that site to your list of trusted sites. This
will allow the site to work correctly.

Impact of workaround. There are side effects to prompting before running 
Active Scripting. Many websites that are on the Internet or on an intranet use
Active Scripting to provide additional functionality. For example, an online 
e-commerce site or banking site may use Active Scripting to provide menus, 
ordering forms, or even account statements. Prompting before running Active 
Scripting is a global setting that affects all Internet and intranet sites. 
You will be prompted frequently when you enable this workaround. For each 
prompt, if you feel you trust the site that you are visiting, click Yes to run
Active Scripting. If you do not want to be prompted for all these sites, use 
the steps outlined in "Add sites that you trust to the Internet Explorer 
Trusted sites zone".

Add sites that you trust to the Internet Explorer Trusted sites zone

After you set Internet Explorer to require a prompt before it runs ActiveX
controls and Active Scripting in the Internet zone and in the Local intranet 
zone, you can add sites that you trust to the Internet Explorer Trusted sites
zone. This will allow you to continue to use trusted websites exactly as you 
do today, while helping to protect you from this attack on untrusted sites. We
recommend that you add only sites that you trust to the Trusted sites zone.

To do this, perform the following steps:

1. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, click Internet Options, and then 
click the Security tab.

2. In the Select a web content zone to specify its current security 
settings box, click Trusted Sites, and then click Sites.

3. If you want to add sites that do not require an encrypted channel, 
click to clear the Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this
zone check box.

4. In the Add this website to the zone box, type the URL of a site that 
you trust, and then click Add.

5. Repeat these steps for each site that you want to add to the zone.

6. Click OK two times to accept the changes and return to Internet 
Explorer.

Note Add any sites that you trust not to take malicious action on your 
system. Two in particular that you may want to add are 
*.windowsupdate.microsoft.com and *.update.microsoft.com. These are the sites
that will host the update, and it requires an ActiveX Control to install the 
update.

*	Unregister VGX.DLL

1. Click Start, click Run, type "%SystemRoot%\System32\regsvr32.exe" -u 
"%CommonProgramFiles%\Microsoft Shared\VGX\vgx.dll", and then click OK.

2. A dialog box appears to confirm that the un-registration process has 
succeeded. Click OK to close the dialog box.

Impact of Workaround: Applications that render VML will no longer do so 
once vgx.dll has been unregistered.

When a security update is available to address this issue, you should 
re-register vgx.dll after installing the security update. To re-register 
vgx.dll follow these steps:

Click Start, click Run, type "%SystemRoot%\System32\regsvr32.exe" 
"%CommonProgramFiles%\Microsoft Shared\VGX\vgx.dll", and then click OK.

A dialog box appears to confirm that the registration process has 
succeeded. Click OK to close the dialog box.

*	Modify the Access Control List on VGX.DLL to be more restrictive

To modify the Access Control List (ACL) on vgx.dll to be more restrictive,
follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type "cmd" (without the quotation marks), and
then click OK.

2. Type the following command at a command prompt make a note of the 
current ACLs that are on the file (including inheritance settings) for future
reference to undo this modification:

cacls "%CommonProgramFiles%\Microsoft Shared\VGX\vgx.dll"

3. Type the following command at a command prompt to deny the 'everyone'
group access to this file:

echo y| cacls "%CommonProgramFiles%\Microsoft Shared\VGX\vgx.dll" /d 
everyone

4. Close Internet Explorer, and reopen it for the changes to take effect.

Impact of Workaround: Applications and Web sites that render VML may no 
longer display or function correctly.

How to undo this workaround. Before any security updates that fix this 
issue can be installed, this workaround must be reverted to the previous ACL 
configuration for vgx.dll. To revert to the previous vgx.dll ACLs follow these
steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type "cmd" (without the quotation marks), and
then click OK.

2. To revert to the previous ACL configuration for vgx.dll, type the 
following command and replace the ACL on vgx.dll with the ACLs it previously 
had, which were recorded in step 2 of this workaround The command line to do 
so will vary depending on your environment:

echo y| cacls "%CommonProgramFiles%\Microsoft Shared\VGX\vgx.dll" /g 
original ACLs

3. Close Internet Explorer, and reopen it for the changes to take effect.

Note If this workaround is applied, software that redistributes vgx.dll 
may fail to install. Before this software can be installed, this workaround 
must be reverted to the previous ACL configuration for vgx.dll.

*	Enable Enhanced Protected Mode For Internet Explorer 11 and Enable 
        64-bit Processes for Enhanced Protected Mode

Internet Explorer 11 users can help protect against exploitation of this 
vulnerability by changing the Advanced Security settings for Internet 
Explorer. You can do this by enabling Enhanced Protected Mode (EPM) settings 
in your browser. This security setting will protect users of Internet Explorer
11 on Windows 7 for x64-based systems, and all Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 
clients.

To enable EPM in Internet Explorer, perform the following steps:

1. On the Internet Explorer Tools menu, click Internet Options.

2. In the Internet Options dialog box, click the Advanced tab, and then 
scroll down to the Security section of the settings list.

3. Ensure the checkboxes next to Enable Enhanced Protected Mode and 
Enable 64-bit processes for Enhanced Protected Mode (for 64-bit systems) are 
selected.

4. Click OK to accept the changes and return to Internet Explorer.

5. Restart your system.

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