Security Bulletin
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS09-023 - Moderate
Vulnerability in Windows Search Could Allow Information Disclosure (963093)
Published: June 09, 2009
Version: 1.0
General Information
Executive Summary
This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Windows Search. The vulnerability could allow information disclosure if a user performs a search that returns a specially crafted file as the first result or if the user previews a specially crafted file from the search results. By default, the Windows Search component is not preinstalled on Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. It is an optional component available for download. Windows Search installed on supported editions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 is not affected by this vulnerability.
This security update is rated Moderate for Windows Search installed on all supported editions of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. For more information, see the subsection, Affected and Non-Affected Software, in this section.
The security update addresses this vulnerability by modifying how Windows Search restricts the environment within which scripts execute. For more information about the vulnerability, see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) subsection for the specific vulnerability entry under the next section, Vulnerability Information.
Recommendation. The majority of customers have automatic updating enabled and will not need to take any action because this security update will be downloaded and installed automatically. Customers who have not enabled automatic updating need to check for updates and install this update manually. For information about specific configuration options in automatic updating, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 294871.
For administrators and enterprise installations, or end users who want to install this security update manually, Microsoft recommends that customers consider applying the security update using update management software, or by checking for updates using the Microsoft Update service.
See also the section, Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance, later in this bulletin.
Known Issues. Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 963093 documents the currently known issues that customers may experience when installing this security update. The article also documents recommended solutions for these issues.
Affected and Non-Affected Software
The following software have been tested to determine which versions or editions are affected. Other versions or editions are either past their support life cycle or are not affected. To determine the support life cycle for your software version or edition, visit Microsoft Support Lifecycle.
Affected Software
Operating System | Component | Maximum Security Impact | Aggregate Severity Rating | Bulletins Replaced by this Update |
---|---|---|---|---|
Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows XP Service Pack 3 | Windows Search 4.0 | Information Disclosure | Moderate | None |
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2 | Windows Search 4.0 | Information Disclosure | Moderate | None |
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 | Windows Search 4.0 | Information Disclosure | Moderate | None |
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2 | Windows Search 4.0 | Information Disclosure | Moderate | None |
Non-Affected Software
Operating System | Component |
---|---|
Windows Vista, Windows Vista Service Pack 1, and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 | Windows Search 4.0 |
Windows Vista x64 Edition, Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 1, and Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2 | Windows Search 4.0 |
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems and Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 | Windows Search 4.0 |
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems and Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 | Windows Search 4.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Related to This Security Update
Where are the file information details?
Refer to the reference tables in the Security Update Deployment section for the location of the file information details.
I am using an older release of the software discussed in this security bulletin. What should I do?
The affected software listed in this bulletin have been tested to determine which releases are affected. Other releases are past their support life cycle. To determine the support life cycle for your software release, visit Microsoft Support Lifecycle.
It should be a priority for customers who have older releases of the software to migrate to supported releases to prevent potential exposure to vulnerabilities. For more information about the Windows Product Lifecycle, visit Microsoft Support Lifecycle. For more information about the extended security update support period for these software versions or editions, visit Microsoft Product Support Services.
Customers who require custom support for older releases must contact their Microsoft account team representative, their Technical Account Manager, or the appropriate Microsoft partner representative for custom support options. Customers without an Alliance, Premier, or Authorized Contract can contact their local Microsoft sales office. For contact information, visit Microsoft Worldwide Information, select the country, and then click Go to see a list of telephone numbers. When you call, ask to speak with the local Premier Support sales manager. For more information, see the Windows Operating System Product Support Lifecycle FAQ.
Vulnerability Information
Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers
The following severity ratings assume the potential maximum impact of the vulnerability. For information regarding the likelihood, within 30 days of this security bulletin's release, of the exploitability of the vulnerability in relation to its severity rating and security impact, please see the Exploitability Index in the June bulletin summary. For more information, see Microsoft Exploitability Index.
Software | Script Execution in Windows Search Vulnerability - CVE-2009-0239 | Aggregate Severity Rating |
---|---|---|
Windows Search 4.0 installed on Windows XP Service Pack 2 | Moderate Information Disclosure |
Moderate |
Windows Search 4.0 installed on Windows XP Service Pack 3 | Moderate Information Disclosure |
Moderate |
Windows Search 4.0 installed on Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2 | Moderate Information Disclosure |
Moderate |
Windows Search 4.0 installed on Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 | Moderate Information Disclosure |
Moderate |
Windows Search 4.0 installed on Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2 | Moderate Information Disclosure |
Moderate |
Inclusion in Future Service Packs | The update for this issue will be included in a future service pack or update rollup |
Deployment | |
Installing without user intervention | For Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows XP Service Pack 3: WindowsServer2003.WindowsXP-KB963093-x86-ENU /quiet |
For Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2: WindowsServer2003.WindowsXP-KB963093-x64-ENU /quiet |
|
Installing without restarting | For Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows XP Service Pack 3: WindowsServer2003.WindowsXP-KB963093-x86-ENU /norestart |
For Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2: WindowsServer2003.WindowsXP-KB963093-x64-ENU /norestart |
|
Update log file | KB963093.log |
Further information | See the subsection, Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance |
Restart Requirement | |
Restart required? | Yes, you must restart your system after you apply this security update. |
HotPatching | Not applicable |
Removal Information | Use Add or Remove Programs tool in Control Panel or the Spuninst.exe utility located in the %Windir%\$NTUninstallKB963093$\Spuninst folder |
File Information | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 963093 |
Registry Key Verification | For all supported 32-bit editions of Windows XP: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\KB963093 |
For all supported x64-based editions of Windows XP: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\KB963093 |
Note For supported versions of Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, this security update is the same as supported versions of the Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition security update.
Deployment Information
Installing the Update
When you install this security update, the installer checks whether one or more of the files that are being updated on your system have previously been updated by a Microsoft hotfix.
If you have previously installed a hotfix to update one of these files, the installer copies the RTMQFE, SP1QFE, or SP2QFE files to your system. Otherwise, the installer copies the RTMGDR, SP1GDR, or SP2GDR files to your system. Security updates may not contain all variations of these files. For more information about this behavior, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 824994.
For more information about the installer, visit the Microsoft TechNet Web site.
For more information about the terminology that appears in this bulletin, such as hotfix, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 824684.
This security update supports the following setup switches.
Switch | Description |
---|---|
**/help** | Displays the command-line options. |
Setup Modes | |
**/passive** | Unattended Setup mode. No user interaction is required, but installation status is displayed. If a restart is required at the end of Setup, a dialog box will be presented to the user with a timer warning that the computer will restart in 30 seconds. |
**/quiet** | Quiet mode. This is the same as unattended mode, but no status or error messages are displayed. |
Restart Options | |
**/norestart** | Does not restart when installation has completed. |
**/forcerestart** | Restarts the computer after installation and force other applications to close at shutdown without saving open files first. |
**/warnrestart\[:x\]** | Presents a dialog box with a timer warning the user that the computer will restart in *x* seconds. (The default setting is 30 seconds.) Intended for use with the **/quiet** switch or the **/passive** switch. |
**/promptrestart** | Displays a dialog box prompting the local user to allow a restart. |
Special Options | |
**/overwriteoem** | Overwrites OEM files without prompting. |
**/nobackup** | Does not back up files needed for uninstall. |
**/forceappsclose** | Forces other programs to close when the computer shuts down. |
**/log:path** | Allows the redirection of installation log files. |
**/integrate:path** | Integrates the update into the Windows source files. These files are located at the path that is specified in the switch. |
**/extract\[:path\]** | Extracts files without starting the Setup program. |
**/ER** | Enables extended error reporting. |
**/verbose** | Enables verbose logging. During installation, creates %Windir%\\CabBuild.log. This log details the files that are copied. Using this switch may cause the installation to proceed more slowly. |
Removing the Update
This security update supports the following setup switches.
Switch | Description |
---|---|
**/help** | Displays the command-line options. |
Setup Modes | |
**/passive** | Unattended Setup mode. No user interaction is required, but installation status is displayed. If a restart is required at the end of Setup, a dialog box will be presented to the user with a timer warning that the computer will restart in 30 seconds. |
**/quiet** | Quiet mode. This is the same as unattended mode, but no status or error messages are displayed. |
Restart Options | |
**/norestart** | Does not restart when installation has completed |
**/forcerestart** | Restarts the computer after installation and force other applications to close at shutdown without saving open files first. |
**/warnrestart\[:x\]** | Presents a dialog box with a timer warning the user that the computer will restart in *x* seconds. (The default setting is 30 seconds.) Intended for use with the **/quiet** switch or the **/passive** switch. |
**/promptrestart** | Displays a dialog box prompting the local user to allow a restart. |
Special Options | |
**/forceappsclose** | Forces other programs to close when the computer shuts down. |
**/log:path** | Allows the redirection of installation log files. |
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
To verify that a security update has been applied to an affected system, you may be able to use the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) tool. See the section, Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance, earlier in this bulletin for more information.
File Version Verification
Because there are several editions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your system. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.
- Click Start, and then click Search.
- In the Search Results pane, click All files and folders under Search Companion.
- In the All or part of the file name box, type a file name from the appropriate file information table, and then click Search.
- In the list of files, right-click a file name from the appropriate file information table, and then click Properties. Note Depending on the edition of the operating system, or the programs that are installed on your system, some of the files that are listed in the file information table may not be installed.
- On the Version tab, determine the version of the file that is installed on your system by comparing it to the version that is documented in the appropriate file information table. Note Attributes other than the file version may change during installation. Comparing other file attributes to the information in the file information table is not a supported method of verifying that the update has been applied. Also, in certain cases, files may be renamed during installation. If the file or version information is not present, use one of the other available methods to verify update installation.
Registry Key Verification
You may also be able to verify the files that this security update has installed by reviewing the registry keys listed in the Reference Table in this section.
These registry keys may not contain a complete list of installed files. Also, these registry keys may not be created correctly when an administrator or an OEM integrates or slipstreams this security update into the Windows installation source files.
Windows Server 2003 (all editions)
Reference Table
The following table contains the security update information for this software. You can find additional information in the subsection, Deployment Information, in this section.
Inclusion in Future Service Packs | The update for this issue will be included in a future service pack or update rollup |
Deployment | |
Installing without user intervention | For all supported 32-bit editions of Windows Server 2003: WindowsServer2003.WindowsXP-KB963093-x86-ENU /quiet |
For all supported x64-based editions of Windows Server 2003: WindowsServer2003.WindowsXP-KB963093-x64-ENU /quiet |
|
Installing without restarting | For all supported 32-bit editions of Windows Server 2003: WindowsServer2003.WindowsXP-KB963093-x86-ENU /norestart |
For all supported x64-based editions of Windows Server 2003: WindowsServer2003.WindowsXP-KB963093-x64-ENU /norestart |
|
Update log file | KB963093.log |
Further information | See the subsection, Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance |
Restart Requirement | |
Restart required? | Yes, you must restart your system after you apply this security update. |
HotPatching | This security update does not support HotPatching. For more information about HotPatching, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 897341. |
Removal Information | Use Add or Remove Programs tool in Control Panel or the Spuninst.exe utility located in the %Windir%\$NTUninstallKB963093$\Spuninst folder |
File Information | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 963093 |
Registry Key Verification | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\KB963093 |
Switch | Description |
---|---|
**/help** | Displays the command-line options. |
Setup Modes | |
**/passive** | Unattended Setup mode. No user interaction is required, but installation status is displayed. If a restart is required at the end of Setup, a dialog box will be presented to the user with a timer warning that the computer will restart in 30 seconds. |
**/quiet** | Quiet mode. This is the same as unattended mode, but no status or error messages are displayed. |
Restart Options | |
**/norestart** | Does not restart when installation has completed. |
**/forcerestart** | Restarts the computer after installation and force other applications to close at shutdown without saving open files first. |
**/warnrestart\[:x\]** | Presents a dialog box with a timer warning the user that the computer will restart in *x* seconds. (The default setting is 30 seconds.) Intended for use with the **/quiet** switch or the **/passive** switch. |
**/promptrestart** | Displays a dialog box prompting the local user to allow a restart. |
Special Options | |
**/overwriteoem** | Overwrites OEM files without prompting. |
**/nobackup** | Does not back up files needed for uninstall. |
**/forceappsclose** | Forces other programs to close when the computer shuts down. |
**/log:path** | Allows the redirection of installation log files. |
**/integrate:path** | Integrates the update into the Windows source files. These files are located at the path that is specified in the switch. |
**/extract\[:path\]** | Extracts files without starting the Setup program. |
**/ER** | Enables extended error reporting. |
**/verbose** | Enables verbose logging. During installation, creates %Windir%\\CabBuild.log. This log details the files that are copied. Using this switch may cause the installation to proceed more slowly. |
Removing the Update
This security update supports the following setup switches.
Switch | Description |
---|---|
**/help** | Displays the command-line options. |
Setup Modes | |
**/passive** | Unattended Setup mode. No user interaction is required, but installation status is displayed. If a restart is required at the end of Setup, a dialog box will be presented to the user with a timer warning that the computer will restart in 30 seconds. |
**/quiet** | Quiet mode. This is the same as unattended mode, but no status or error messages are displayed. |
Restart Options | |
**/norestart** | Does not restart when installation has completed. |
**/forcerestart** | Restarts the computer after installation and force other applications to close at shutdown without saving open files first. |
**/warnrestart\[:x\]** | Presents a dialog box with a timer warning the user that the computer will restart in *x* seconds. (The default setting is 30 seconds.) Intended for use with the **/quiet** switch or the **/passive** switch. |
**/promptrestart** | Displays a dialog box prompting the local user to allow a restart. |
Special Options | |
**/forceappsclose** | Forces other programs to close when the computer shuts down. |
**/log:path** | Allows the redirection of installation log files. |
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
To verify that a security update has been applied to an affected system, you may be able to use the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) tool. See the section, Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance, earlier in this bulletin for more information.
File Version Verification
Because there are several editions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your system. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.
- Click Start, and then click Search.
- In the Search Results pane, click All files and folders under Search Companion.
- In the All or part of the file name box, type a file name from the appropriate file information table, and then click Search.
- In the list of files, right-click a file name from the appropriate file information table, and then click Properties. Note Depending on the edition of the operating system, or the programs that are installed on your system, some of the files that are listed in the file information table may not be installed.
- On the Version tab, determine the version of the file that is installed on your system by comparing it to the version that is documented in the appropriate file information table. Note Attributes other than the file version may change during installation. Comparing other file attributes to the information in the file information table is not a supported method of verifying that the update has been applied. Also, in certain cases, files may be renamed during installation. If the file or version information is not present, use one of the other available methods to verify update installation.
Registry Key Verification
You may also be able to verify the files that this security update has installed by reviewing the registry keys listed in the Reference Table in this section.
These registry keys may not contain a complete list of installed files. Also, these registry keys may not be created correctly when an administrator or an OEM integrates or slipstreams this security update into the Windows installation source files.
Other Information
Acknowledgments
Microsoft thanks the following for working with us to help protect customers:
- Yair Amit of IBM Rational Application Security for reporting the Script Execution in Windows Search Vulnerability (CVE-2009-0239)
Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP)
To improve security protections for customers, Microsoft provides vulnerability information to major security software providers in advance of each monthly security update release. Security software providers can then use this vulnerability information to provide updated protections to customers via their security software or devices, such as antivirus, network-based intrusion detection systems, or host-based intrusion prevention systems. To determine whether active protections are available from security software providers, please visit the active protections Web sites provided by program partners, listed in Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP) Partners.
Support
- Customers in the U.S. and Canada can receive technical support from Security Support or 1-866-PCSAFETY. There is no charge for support calls that are associated with security updates. For more information about available support options, see Microsoft Help and Support.
- International customers can receive support from their local Microsoft subsidiaries. There is no charge for support that is associated with security updates. For more information about how to contact Microsoft for support issues, visit the International Support Web site.
Disclaimer
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.
Revisions
- V1.0 (June 9, 2009): Bulletin published.
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