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A  U  S  C  E  R  T                                           A  L  E  R  T

                       AL-2006.0124 -- AUSCERT ALERT
                                [Win][OSX]
        Exploit code released for new unpatched Word vulnerability
                             15 December 2006

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

        AusCERT Alert Summary
        ---------------------

Product:              Microsoft Word 2003
                      Microsoft Word Viewer 2003
                      Microsoft Word XP
                      Microsoft Word 2000
                      Microsoft Word v.X for Mac (unconfirmed)
Operating System:     Windows
                      Mac OS X
Impact:               Execute Arbitrary Code/Commands
                      Denial of Service
Access:               Remote/Unauthenticated
Member content until: Friday, January 12 2007

Comment: Note that while this vulnerability has been reported to work in
         Word v.X for Mac, this has not been confirmed.

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OVERVIEW

        Exploit code has been released [1] for a new unpatched Word
        vulnerability [2] that may allow remote attackers to execute
        arbitrary code.


IMPACT

        If a user were to open a specially crafted Word file with Microsoft
        Word an attacker could cause arbitrary code to be run, possibly 
        taking control of the victim machine.

        Microsoft Office 97 and 2000 configure Internet Explorer to
        automatically open Microsoft Office documents once loaded. Users of
        these products would therefore only need to visit a website with a
        malicious Word document to be affected.

        Note that Windows can detect a Word document even if its extension
        has been changed and will launch Word if such a file is opened.


MITIGATION

        Until a patch is released, users are advised to not open untrusted
        Word documents, or Word documents from unexpected sources. Word
        documents from expected sources should be validated with the sender
        before opening.

        Users should also configure their browser to not automatically open
        Word documents. For Internet Explorer, the Office Document Open
        Confirmation Tool can be found at:

            http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=8B5762D2-077F-4031-9EE6-C9538E9F2A2F&displaylang=en

        Information for other browsers such as Firefox and Safari can be found
        in US-CERTs 'Securing Your Web Browser' article at:

            http://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/securing_browser/


REFERENCES

        [1] US-CERT Current Activity
            http://www.us-cert.gov/current/current_activity.html#mswd3vl

        [2] US-CERT Vulnerability Note VU#996892
            http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/996892

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Incident Reporting Form at:

        http://www.auscert.org.au/render.html?it=3192

===========================================================================
Australian Computer Emergency Response Team
The University of Queensland
Brisbane
Qld 4072

Internet Email: auscert@auscert.org.au
Facsimile:      (07) 3365 7031
Telephone:      (07) 3365 4417 (International: +61 7 3365 4417)
                AusCERT personnel answer during Queensland business hours
                which are GMT+10:00 (AEST).
                On call after hours for member emergencies only.
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