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Q296185: Patch Available for New Variant of "Malformed Hit-Highlighting"

Article: Q296185
Product(s): Internet Information Server
Version(s): 2.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbSecurity kbWinNT400PreSP7Fix kbWin2000PreSP3Fix kbgraphxlinkcritical KbSECVulnerabili
Last Modified: 15-AUG-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Index Server version 2.0 
- Indexing Service 
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SYMPTOMS
========

A new variant of the Malformed Hit-Highlighting vulnerability
(http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS00-006.asp) has been
discovered that affects both Index Server 2.0 and Indexing Service in Microsoft
Windows 2000. The new variant has exactly the same scope as the original
vulnerability. If an attacker provides an invalid search request, he or she can
read files that reside on the Web server. The new patch eliminates all known
variants of the vulnerability.

Mitigating Factors:

- The vulnerability would only allow files to be read. File cannot be added,
  changed, or deleted through this vulnerability.

- Server-side files should not contain sensitive data. If you follow this
  recommendation, there would be no sensitive data to compromise through this
  vulnerability.

- The vulnerability would only allow files that reside on the Web server (and
  in the same logical drive as the server's root directory) to be read. It
  would not allow files elsewhere on the server, or files that reside on a
  remote server, to be read.

RESOLUTION
==========

Indexing Service
----------------

This problem was first corrected in Windows 2000 Service Pack 3. The English
version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

  Date        Time    Version        Size    File name
  ------------------------------------------------------
  04/12/2001  03:40p  5.0.2195.3498  42,768  Webhits.dll


Index Server 2.0
----------------

Windows NT 4.0:

To resolve this problem, obtain the individual package referenced below or obtain
the Windows NT 4.0 Security Rollup Package. For additional information on the
SRP, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q299444 Post-Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6a Security Rollup Package (SRP)

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

  DownloadDownload Q296185i.exe now
  (http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/nts/downloads/critical/q296185/default.asp)

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click
the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge
Base:

  Q119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current
virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was
posted. The file is stored on secure servers that prevent any unauthorized
changes to the file.

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or
later:

  Date        Time    Version     Size    File name
  ---------------------------------------------------
  04/12/2001  03:51p  5.0.1781.3  42,256  Webhits.dll

NOTE: Due to file dependencies, this hotfix requires Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
Service Pack 3 or later.



Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition:

To resolve this problem, obtain the Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server
Edition, Security Rollup Package (SRP). For additional information about the
SRP, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q317636 Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition, Security Rollup
  Package

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed that this problem may cause a degree of security
vulnerability in Indexing Service in Windows 2000 and Index Server 2.0. This
problem was first corrected in Windows 2000 Service Pack 3.

MORE INFORMATION
================

For additional information about how to obtain a hotfix for Windows 2000
Datacenter Server, click the article number below to view the article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q265173 The Datacenter Program and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server Product

For additional information about how to install multiple hotfixes with only one
reboot, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q296861 Use QChain.exe to Install Multiple Hotfixes with One Reboot

For more information about this vulnerability, see the following Microsoft Web
site:

  http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-025.asp

Additional query words: security_patch kbWin2000srp1

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbSecurity kbWinNT400PreSP7Fix kbWin2000PreSP3Fix kbgraphxlinkcritical KbSECVulnerability KbSECHack kbWin2000sp3fix 
Technology        : kbIdxServSearch kbAudDeveloper kbIdxServ100 kbIdxServ200
Version           : :2.0
Hardware          : x86
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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

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