Microsoft Security Bulletin MS16-126 - Moderate
Security Update for Microsoft Internet Messaging API (3196067)
Published: October 11, 2016 | Updated: December 13, 2016
Version: 2.0
Executive Summary
This security update resolves a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. An information disclosure vulnerability exists when the Microsoft Internet Messaging API improperly handles objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could test for the presence of files on disk.
The security update affects Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7 and Windows Sever 2008 R2 and is rated moderate on client and low on server operating systems. Note that you must install two updates to be protected from the vulnerability discussed in this bulletin: The update in this bulletin, and the update in MS16-118. See Update FAQ section below for more information.
The update addresses the vulnerability by changing the way the Microsoft Internet Messaging API handles objects in memory. For more information about the vulnerability, see the Affected Software and Vulnerability Information section.
For more information about this update, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 3196067.
Affected Software and Vulnerability Severity Ratings
The following software versions or editions are affected. Versions or editions that are not listed 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.
The severity ratings indicated for each affected software 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 October bulletin summary.
**Operating System** | [**Internet Explorer Information Disclosure Vulnerability – CVE-2016-3298**](http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=cve-2016-3298) | **Updates Replaced**\* |
**Windows Vista** | ||
[Windows Vista Service Pack 2](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=edb5aa4c-a8bf-405c-977f-a0e67c17aaa3) (3193515) | **Moderate** Information Disclosure | None |
[Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=60ee3508-953c-4c5e-92d8-1de2b1501473) (3193515) | **Moderate** Information Disclosure | None |
**Windows Server 2008** | ||
[Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=b32c11d5-71f9-4d57-b4da-84dc5a69c42f) (3193515) | **Low** Information Disclosure | None |
[Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=6b1d626b-af0c-4e91-b6cf-dbb51f7e1d3d) (3193515) | **Low** Information Disclosure | None |
[Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=9cf5705d-dace-49c1-a29c-eb594418e09a) (3193515) | **Low** Information Disclosure | None |
**Windows 7** | ||
[Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=560a16c3-02f3-4d88-8333-faae9b4f573c) (3192391) Security Only[1] | **Moderate** Information Disclosure | 3175024 in [MS16-111](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=825142) |
[Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=d188d773-ee20-4a07-aef4-061cf175889c) (3185330) Monthly Roll-Up[1] | **Moderate** Information Disclosure | 3175024 in [MS16-111](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=825142) |
[Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=3bcc461d-748f-4f00-a3ec-458cbcd70bd3) (3192391) Security Only[1] | **Moderate** Information Disclosure | 3175024 in [MS16-111](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=825142) |
[Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=a037fccf-ec28-49ca-b97d-690cad03bebf) (3185330) Monthly Roll-Up [1] | **Moderate** Information Disclosure | 3175024 in [MS16-111](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=825142) |
**Windows Server 2008 R2** | ||
[Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=ba08e1ce-fa47-4ac9-b5a8-00771c89b3c1) (3192391) Security Only[1] | **Low** Information Disclosure | 3175024 in [MS16-111](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=825142) |
[Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=6a2f510a-3c32-441d-8d94-754e8faacfff) (3185330) Monthly Roll-Up [1] | **Low** Information Disclosure | 3175024 in [MS16-111](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=825142) |
[Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 1](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=a82a5df6-f34e-4d86-bd27-e9ce591c3103) (3192391) Security Only[1] | **Low** Information Disclosure | 3175024 in [MS16-111](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=825142) |
[Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 1](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=347fd4d8-0791-422c-ba54-6449b586c255) (3185330) Monthly Roll-Up [1] | **Low** Information Disclosure | 3175024 in [MS16-111](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=825142) |
*The Updates Replaced column shows only the latest update in any chain of superseded updates. For a comprehensive list of updates replaced, go to the Microsoft Update Catalog, search for the update KB number, and then view update details (updates replaced information is provided on the PackageDetails tab).
Update FAQ
In addition to installing this update are there any further steps I need to carry out to be protected from any of the vulnerabilities discussed in this bulletin? Yes. For Vista and Windows Server 2008 operating systems installing the 3191492 cumulative update by itself does not fully protect against CVE-2016-3298 — you must also install security update 3193515 in MS16-126 to be fully protected from the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Information
Internet Explorer Information Disclosure Vulnerability – CVE-2016-3298
An information disclosure vulnerability exists when the Microsoft Internet Messaging API improperly handles objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could allow the attacker to test for the presence of files on disk.
For an attack to be successful an attacker must persuade a user to open a malicious website. The update addresses the vulnerability by changing the way the Microsoft Internet Messaging API handles objects in memory.
The following table contain a link to the standard entry for each vulnerability in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures list:
Vulnerability title | CVE number | Publicly disclosed | Exploited |
Internet Explorer Information Disclosure Vulnerability | CVE-2016-3298 | No | Yes |