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-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- =========================================================================== AUSCERT External Security Bulletin Redistribution ESB-2001.211 -- Microsoft Security Bulletin MS01-028 RTF document linked to template can run macros without warning 23 May 2001 =========================================================================== AusCERT Security Bulletin Summary --------------------------------- Product: Microsoft Word 97 Microsoft Word 2000 Microsoft Word 98 (J) Microsoft Word 98 for the Mac Microsoft Word 2001 for the Mac Vendor: Microsoft Operating System: Windows Apple Mac Impact: Execute Arbitrary Code/Commands - --------------------------BEGIN INCLUDED TEXT-------------------- - -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- - - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: RTF document linked to template can run macros without warning Date: 21 May 2001 Software: Microsoft Word for Windows and Word for the Mac Impact: Run Macros without warning Bulletin: MS01-028 Microsoft encourages customers to review the Security Bulletin at: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-028.asp. - - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Issue: ====== Word, like other members of the Office product family, provides a security mechanism that requires user's approval to run macros. By design, anytime a document is opened the user would be notified if the document contains macros. In addition, this mechanism checks secondary documents that the original document links to, such as templates, and warn if any of those contain macros. This feature works by scanning the document or template for the presence of macros, alerting the user of their presence, and then asking the user if he wants to allow the macros to run. By embedding a macro in a template, and providing another user with an RTF document that links to it, an attacker could cause a macro to run automatically when the RTF document was opened. The macro would be able to take any action that the user herself could take. This could include disabling the user's Word security settings so that subsequently-opened Word documents would no longer be checked for macros. Mitigating Factors: ==================== - The vulnerability only affects Word. Other Office products are not affected. - The vulnerability does not occur when opening Word documents, only when opening RTF documents, and even then only when the RTF document is linked to a template. Patch Availability: =================== - A patch is available to fix this vulnerability. Please read the Security Bulletin http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms01-028.asp for information on obtaining this patch. - - --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. - -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGP Personal Privacy 6.5.3 iQEVAwUBOwmQ/I0ZSRQxA/UrAQEXzAgAlbMfhrKwuOFbhk4AWLV1prmlVjt0W0CK uMmyBO02YiBcFyw4PXTpAsDZ7RbyFiy/sJwzTN+ZayYFk9Lis4oLnKhJdkmplbwU /HQrH1yzssz37Zcj7QIrKWBUfs3ts3SqUWTBB50/MnUEhv85lYT/nXhcOGqWAeyR IXpL7NoaHEU7kZVAyHj7Bs5M/jU4zA+Y8xzyFrLd/HxBTRBjCl/HaIF1LVptBHan N7VX9K7aq3muDkOYoXPbeox8AN2IFHKBQd510kbX1u5Zd7LmgYo8YQcehtMkVTnj +57bFwDbNy1F/fRtCeBhzhWv/T+XScvIz8+ew8UcDtD7gD2IUGq/HQ== =JDpK - -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- - --------------------------END INCLUDED TEXT-------------------- You have received this e-mail bulletin as a result of your organisation's registration with AusCERT. The mailing list you are subscribed to is maintained within your organisation, so if you do not wish to continue receiving these bulletins you should contact your local IT manager. If you do not know who that is, please send an email to auscert@auscert.org.au and we will forward your request to the appropriate person. This security bulletin is provided as a service to AusCERT's members. As AusCERT did not write the document quoted above, AusCERT has had no control over its content. The decision to use any or all of this information is the responsibility of each user or organisation, and should be done so in accordance with site policies and procedures. NOTE: This is only the original release of the security bulletin. It may not be updated when updates to the original are made. If downloading at a later date, it is recommended that the bulletin is retrieved directly from the original authors to ensure that the information is still current. Contact information for the authors of the original document is included in the Security Bulletin above. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact them directly. Previous advisories and external security bulletins can be retrieved from: http://www.auscert.org.au/Information/advisories.html If you believe that your system has been compromised, contact AusCERT or your representative in FIRST (Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams). 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 emergencies. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.3i Charset: noconv Comment: ftp://ftp.auscert.org.au/pub/auscert/AUSCERT_PGP.key iQCVAwUBOwuh2ih9+71yA2DNAQGP9QP/SOVBTdPiZK4x0VvvHNU5XBA/LUpJmNH1 7fukaT+XvaYRnJX/00Nti7HE5AbAK7PI01cNUb2Qi6rU7jADiPu78CMBDAteSaIP QUGfEwI8j4S22DujzOGNn6uU2XkwAlLmVL9e0ZbbxysO8QY0mX048v+9gx+TNX1b rUNI70v/yQE= =z4D4 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----