Microsoft Security Bulletin MS14-038 - Critical
Vulnerability in Windows Journal Could Allow Remote Code Execution (2975689)
Published: July 8, 2014
Version: 1.0
General Information
Executive Summary
This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted Journal file. 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.
This security update is rated Critical for all supported editions of Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 (excluding Itanium), Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 (excluding Itanium), Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, and Windows RT 8.1. For more information, see the Affected and Non-Affected Software section.
The security update addresses the vulnerability by modifying the way that Windows Journal parses Journal files. For more information about the vulnerability, see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) subsection for the specific vulnerability later in this bulletin.
Recommendation. Most customers have automatic updating enabled and will not need to take any action because this security update will be downloaded and installed automatically. For information about specific configuration options in automatic updating, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 294871. For customers who do not have automatic updating enabled, the steps in Turn automatic updating on or off can be used to enable automatic updating.
For enterprise installations, or administrators and end users who want to install this security update manually (including customers who have not enabled automatic updating), Microsoft recommends that customers apply the update immediately using update management software, or by checking for updates using the Microsoft Update service. The updates are also available via the download links in the Affected Software table later in this bulletin.
See also the section, Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance, later in this bulletin.
Knowledge Base Article
- Knowledge Base Article: 2975689
- File Information: Yes
- SHA1/SHA2 hashes: Yes
- Known issues: None
Affected and Non-Affected Software
The following software has 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, see Microsoft Support Lifecycle.
Affected Software
**Operating System** | **Maximum Security Impact** | **Aggregate Severity Rating** | **Updates Replaced** |
**Windows Vista** | |||
[Windows Vista Service Pack 2](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=6fdea8d1-62af-4708-bb79-124c2be9fb7f) (Journal) (2971850) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | 2835364 in [MS13-054](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=301531) |
[Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=2fb4472b-c9f0-4ec5-b6e5-b75fae6fc628) (Journal) (2971850) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | 2835364 in [MS13-054](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=301531) |
**Windows Server 2008** | |||
[Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=4b333af1-018b-420e-947e-015c342e3e04) (Journal) (2971850) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | 2835364 in [MS13-054](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=301531) |
[Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=84195532-dd17-41db-a560-4951360bcb31) (Journal) (2971850) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | 2835364 in [MS13-054](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=301531) |
**Windows 7** | |||
[Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=9626673d-96e0-47d7-ad66-5132aee7158a) (Journal) (2971850) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | 2835364 in [MS13-054](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=301531) |
[Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=c24e54c7-0425-4c82-b978-abbb804bedf1) (Journal) (2971850) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | 2835364 in [MS13-054](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=301531) |
**Windows Server 2008 R2** | |||
[Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=3853dee7-5d32-46f4-8e4b-d9c6ca1a325a) (Journal) (2971850) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | 2835364 in [MS13-054](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=301531) |
**Windows 8 and Windows 8.1** | |||
[Windows 8 for 32-bit Systems](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=20510d0a-4861-44e2-b3b5-c202a57c341a) (Journal) (2971850) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | 2835364 in [MS13-054](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=301531) |
[Windows 8 for x64-based Systems](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=6e21b6e8-907e-471e-a065-207a5ace268a) (Journal) (2971850) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | 2835364 in [MS13-054](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=301531) |
[Windows 8.1 for 32-bit Systems](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=5ccfdf91-5e47-456b-a989-e3332a5619d1)[1] (Journal) (2971850) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | None |
Windows 8.1 for 32-bit Systems[2] (Journal) (2974286) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | None |
[Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=11cbeaee-0656-48d3-aaa4-d6c8362f9aa2)[1] (Journal) (2971850) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | None |
Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems[2] (Journal) (2974286) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | None |
**Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2** | |||
[Windows Server 2012](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=0ef7af4b-6c96-4704-901f-53f22baede45) (Journal) (2971850) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | 2835364 in [MS13-054](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=301531) |
[Windows Server 2012 R2](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=85bb5efc-f853-461b-8a71-f8ed763503f7)[1] (Journal) (2971850) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | None |
Windows Server 2012 R2[2] (Journal) (2974286) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | None |
**Windows RT and Windows RT 8.1** | |||
Windows RT[3] (Journal) (2971850) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | 2835364 in [MS13-054](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=301531) |
Windows RT 8.1[1][3] (Journal) (2971850) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | None |
[2]This update is for systems that do not have the 2919355 update installed. This update is not available via the Microsoft Download Center. See the Update FAQ for more information.
[3]This update is available via Windows Update.
Non-Affected Software
Operating System |
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 |
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2 |
Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems |
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2 |
Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 1 |
Server Core installation option |
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) |
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation |
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation |
Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) |
Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) |
**Vulnerability Severity Rating and Maximum Security Impact by Affected Software** | ||
**Affected Software** | **Windows Journal Remote Code Execution Vulnerability - CVE-2014-1824** | **Aggregate Severity Rating** |
**Windows Vista** | ||
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 | **Critical** Remote Code Execution | **Critical** |
Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2 | **Critical** Remote Code Execution | **Critical** |
**Windows Server 2008** | ||
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 | **Critical** Remote Code Execution | **Critical** |
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 | **Critical** Remote Code Execution | **Critical** |
**Windows 7** | ||
Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 | **Critical** Remote Code Execution | **Critical** |
Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 | **Critical** Remote Code Execution | **Critical** |
**Windows Server 2008 R2** | ||
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 | **Critical** Remote Code Execution | **Critical** |
**Windows 8 and Windows 8.1** | ||
Windows 8 for 32-bit Systems | **Critical** Remote Code Execution | **Critical** |
Windows 8 for x64-based Systems | **Critical** Remote Code Execution | **Critical** |
Windows 8.1 for 32-bit systems | **Critical** Remote Code Execution | **Critical** |
Windows 8.1 for x64-based systems | **Critical** Remote Code Execution | **Critical** |
**Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2** | ||
Windows Server 2012 | **Critical** Remote Code Execution | **Critical** |
Windows Server 2012 R2 | **Critical** Remote Code Execution | **Critical** |
**Windows RT and Windows RT 8.1** | ||
Windows RT | **Critical** Remote Code Execution | **Critical** |
Windows RT 8.1 | **Critical** Remote Code Execution | **Critical** |
Windows Journal Remote Code Execution Vulnerability - CVE-2014-1824
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that Windows Journal parses specially crafted files. The vulnerability could lead to remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted Journal file. If a user is logged on with administrative rights, an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. 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.
To view this vulnerability as a standard entry in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures list, see CVE-2014-1824.
Mitigating Factors
Mitigation refers to a setting, common configuration, or general best-practice, existing in a default state, that could reduce the severity of exploitation of a vulnerability. The following mitigating factors may be helpful in your situation:
- 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.
Workarounds
Workaround refers to a setting or configuration change that does not correct the underlying vulnerability but would help block known attack vectors before you apply the update. Microsoft has tested the following workarounds and states in the discussion whether a workaround reduces functionality:
Do not open Windows Journal (.jnt) files that you receive from untrusted sources or that you receive unexpectedly from trusted sources
Do not open Windows Journal (.jnt) files that you receive from untrusted sources or that you receive unexpectedly from trusted sources. This vulnerability could be exploited when a user opens a specially crafted file.
FAQ
What is the scope of the vulnerability?
This is a remote code execution vulnerability.
What causes the vulnerability?
The vulnerability is caused when a specially crafted Journal file is opened in Windows Journal. The subsequent parsing of the file causes the Journal program to crash in a way that an attacker could execute arbitrary code.
What might an attacker use the vulnerability to do?
An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could cause arbitrary code to execute in the context of the current user. If a user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take complete control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. 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.
How could an attacker exploit the vulnerability?
This vulnerability requires that a user open a specially crafted Journal file with an affected version of Windows Journal.
In an email attack scenario, an attacker could exploit the vulnerability by sending a specially crafted Journal file to the user and by convincing the user to open the file.
In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker would have to host a website that contains a Journal file that is used to attempt to exploit this vulnerability. In addition, compromised websites and websites that accept or host user-provided content could contain specially crafted content that could exploit this vulnerability. An attacker would have no way to force users to visit a website that contains a specially crafted Journal file. Instead, an attacker would have to convince them to visit the website, typically by getting them to click a link that takes them to the attacker's site, and then convince them to open the specially crafted Journal file.
What systems are primarily at risk from the vulnerability?
Systems where Windows Journal is used, including workstations and terminal servers, are primarily at risk. Servers could be at more risk if administrators allow users to log on to servers and to run programs. However, best practices strongly discourage allowing this.
What does the update do?
The update addresses the vulnerability by modifying the way that Windows Journal parses Journal files.
When this security bulletin was issued, had this vulnerability been publicly disclosed?
No. Microsoft received information about this vulnerability through coordinated vulnerability disclosure.
When this security bulletin was issued, had Microsoft received any reports that this vulnerability was being exploited?
No. Microsoft had not received any information to indicate that this vulnerability had been publicly used to attack customers when this security bulletin was originally issued.
Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance
Several resources are available to help administrators deploy security updates.
- Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) lets administrators scan local and remote systems for missing security updates and common security misconfigurations.
- Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), Systems Management Server (SMS), and System Center Configuration Manager help administrators distribute security updates.
- The Update Compatibility Evaluator components included with Application Compatibility Toolkit aid in streamlining the testing and validation of Windows updates against installed applications.
For information about these and other tools that are available, see Security Tools for IT Pros.
Security Update Deployment
Windows Vista (all editions)
Reference Table
The following table contains the security update information for this software.
Security update file names | For all supported 32-bit editions of Windows Vista: Windows6.0-KB2971850-x86.msu |
For all supported x64-based editions of Windows Vista: Windows6.0-KB2971850-x64.msu |
|
Installation switches | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 934307 |
Restart requirement | In some cases, this update does not require a restart. If the required files are being used, this update will require a restart. If this behavior occurs, a message appears that advises you to restart. |
Removal information | WUSA.exe does not support uninstall of updates. To uninstall an update installed by WUSA, click Control Panel, and then click Security. Under Windows Update, click View installed updates and select from the list of updates. |
File information | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2971850 |
Registry key verification | Note A registry key does not exist to validate the presence of this update. |
Security update file names | For all supported 32-bit editions of Windows Server 2008: Windows6.0-KB2971850-x86.msu |
For all supported x64-based editions of Windows Server 2008: Windows6.0-KB2971850-x64.msu |
|
Installation switches | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 934307 |
Restart requirement | In some cases, this update does not require a restart. If the required files are being used, this update will require a restart. If this behavior occurs, a message appears that advises you to restart. |
Removal information | WUSA.exe does not support uninstall of updates. To uninstall an update installed by WUSA, click Control Panel, and then click Security. Under Windows Update, click View installed updates and select from the list of updates. |
File information | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2971850 |
Registry key verification | Note A registry key does not exist to validate the presence of this update. |
Security update file name | For all supported 32-bit editions of Windows 7: Windows6.1-KB2971850-x86.msu |
For all supported x64-based editions of Windows 7: Windows6.1-KB2971850-x64.msu |
|
Installation switches | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 934307 |
Restart requirement | In some cases, this update does not require a restart. If the required files are being used, this update will require a restart. If this behavior occurs, a message appears that advises you to restart. |
Removal information | To uninstall an update installed by WUSA, use the /Uninstall setup switch or click Control Panel, click System and Security, and then under Windows Update, click View installed updates and select from the list of updates. |
File information | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2971850 |
Registry key verification | Note A registry key does not exist to validate the presence of this update. |
Security update file name | For all supported x64-based editions of Windows Server 2008 R2: Windows6.1-KB2971850-x64.msu |
Installation switches | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 934307 |
Restart requirement | In some cases, this update does not require a restart. If the required files are being used, this update will require a restart. If this behavior occurs, a message appears that advises you to restart. |
Removal information | To uninstall an update installed by WUSA, use the /Uninstall setup switch or click Control Panel, click System and Security, and then under Windows Update, click View installed updates and select from the list of updates. |
File information | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2971850 |
Registry key verification | Note A registry key does not exist to validate the presence of this update. |
Security update file name | For all supported 32-bit editions of Windows 8: Windows8-RT-KB2971850-x86.msu |
For all supported x64-based editions of Windows 8: Windows8-RT-KB2971850-x64.msu |
|
For all supported 32-bit editions of Windows 8.1: Windows8.1-KB2971850-x86.msu |
|
For all supported x64-based editions of Windows 8.1: Windows8.1-KB2971850-x64.msu |
|
Installation switches | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 934307 |
Restart requirement | In some cases, this update does not require a restart. If the required files are being used, this update will require a restart. If this behavior occurs, a message appears that advises you to restart. |
Removal information | To uninstall an update installed by WUSA, use the /Uninstall setup switch or click Control Panel, click System and Security, click Windows Update, and then under See also, click Installed updates and select from the list of updates. |
File information | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2971850 |
Registry key verification | Note A registry key does not exist to validate the presence of this update. |
Security update file name | For all supported editions of Windows Server 2012: Windows8-RT-KB2971850-x64.msu |
For all supported editions of Windows Server 2012 R2: Windows8.1-KB2971850-x64.msu |
|
Installation switches | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 934307 |
Restart requirement | In some cases, this update does not require a restart. If the required files are being used, this update will require a restart. If this behavior occurs, a message appears that advises you to restart. |
Removal information | To uninstall an update installed by WUSA, use the /Uninstall setup switch or click Control Panel, click System and Security, click Windows Update, and then under See also, click Installed updates and select from the list of updates. |
File information | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2971850 |
Registry key verification | Note A registry key does not exist to validate the presence of this update. |
Deployment | These updates are available via Windows Update only. |
Restart Requirement | In some cases, this update does not require a restart. If the required files are being used, this update will require a restart. If this behavior occurs, a message appears that advises you to restart. |
Removal Information | Click Control Panel, click System and Security, click Windows Update, and then under See also, click Installed updates and select from the list of updates. |
File Information | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2971850 |