Microsoft Windows Program Group Converter Filename Local Buffer Overrun Vulnerability

Risk
Medium

Date Discovered
07-07-2004

Description
Microsoft Windows Program Group Converter (grpconv.exe) is reported prone to a buffer overrun vulnerability. The issue is reported to exist due to a lack of sufficient validation performed on filename data.

An attacker may craft a malicious file and present it to a victim in order to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, it is demonstrated that this vulnerability may also be exploited using a series of seperate vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer in order to exploit this vulnerability when a malicious website is viewed.

It is reported that exploitation may be hindered because parameter data is stored in Unicode format.

Symantec Vulnerability Assessment
Symantec Vulnerability Assessment detects and reports this vulnerability. Click here for the advisory released October 13, 2004.

Symantec Enterprise Security Manager
Symantec Enterprise Security Manager™ posted an update to the OS Patch Policy that detects and reports systems that are not patched against this vulnerability. Click here for the advisory released October 13, 2004.

Symantec AntiVirus Products
A heuristic detection has been released to detect possible exploits of this vulnerability. Symantec Antivirus products will detect files which contain code to exploit this vulnerability as Bloodhound.Exploit.15.

Platforms Affected
Avaya DefinityOne Media Servers
Avaya IP600 Media Servers
Avaya S3400 Message Application Server
Avaya S8100 Media Servers
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP1
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP2
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP3
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP4
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server SP1
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server SP2
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server SP3
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server SP4
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP1
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP2
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP3
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP4
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP1
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP2
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP3
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP4
Microsoft Windows 2000 Terminal Services
Microsoft Windows 2000 Terminal Services SP1
Microsoft Windows 2000 Terminal Services SP2
Microsoft Windows 98SE
Microsoft Windows ME
Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP1
Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP2
Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP3
Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP4
Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP5
Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP6
Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP6a
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP1
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP2
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP3
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP4
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP5
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP6
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP6a
Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP1
Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP2
Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP3
Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP4
Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP5
Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP6
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP1
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP2
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP3
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP4
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP5
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP6
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP6a
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition 64-bit
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition 64-bit
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Web Edition
Microsoft Windows Sever 2003 Resource Kit
Microsoft Windows XP Home
Microsoft Windows XP Home SP1
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP1

Components Affected
Microsoft grpconv
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP4
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP3
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP2
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP1
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server SP4
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server SP3
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server SP2
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server SP1
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP4
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP3
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP2
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP1
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP4
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP3
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP2
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP1
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
Microsoft Windows 98SE
Microsoft Windows ME
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6a
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP5
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP4
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP3
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP2
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP1
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP6a
Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP6
Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP5
Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP4
Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP3
Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP2
Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP1
Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP6a
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP6
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP5
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP4
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP3
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP2
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP1
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP6
Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP5
Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP4
Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP3
Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP2
Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP1
Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP6a
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP6
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP5
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP4
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP3
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP2
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP1
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition SP1 Beta 1
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition 64-bit SP1 Beta 1
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition 64-bit
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition SP1 Beta 1
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition 64-bit SP1 Beta 1
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition 64-bit
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition SP1 Beta 1
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Web Edition SP1 Beta 1
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Web Edition
Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition SP1
Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition
Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition Version 2003 SP1
Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition Version 2003
Microsoft Windows XP Home SP1
Microsoft Windows XP Home
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition SP1
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP1
Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Recommendations
Do not accept or execute files from untrusted or unknown sources.
A '.grp' file may be used to exploit this vulnerability. Do not accept or open '.grp' files that originate from users of questionable integrity.

Do not follow links provided by unknown or untrusted sources.
An attacker may present a link to a malicious site designed to exploit this vulnerability. Avoid following links that are received unexpectedly or that originate from users of questionable integrity.

Microsoft has released Security Bulletin MS04-037 dealing with this issue.


Microsoft grpconv :
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP4:

Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows 2000 (KB841356)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/8/8/0/880dac95-63e0-40b0-8ce6-fbd29efe8d4d/Windows2000-KB841356-x86-ENU.EXE

Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows 2000 (KB841356)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/8/8/0/880dac95-63e0-40b0-8ce6-fbd29efe8d4d/Windows2000-KB841356-x86-ENU.EXE

Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows 2000 (KB841356)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/8/8/0/880dac95-63e0-40b0-8ce6-fbd29efe8d4d/Windows2000-KB841356-x86-ENU.EXE

Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows 2000 (KB841356)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/8/8/0/880dac95-63e0-40b0-8ce6-fbd29efe8d4d/Windows2000-KB841356-x86-ENU.EXE

Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows NT Server 4.0 (KB841356) - English
http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/2/b/52bbd8be-78e7-4275-83f6-3a90a87938ae/WindowsNT4Server-KB841356-x86-ENU.exe

Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows NT Server 4.0 (KB841356) - English
http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/2/b/52bbd8be-78e7-4275-83f6-3a90a87938ae/WindowsNT4Server-KB841356-x86-ENU.exe

Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows NT Server 4.0 (KB841356) - English
http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/2/b/52bbd8be-78e7-4275-83f6-3a90a87938ae/WindowsNT4Server-KB841356-x86-ENU.exe

Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition (KB841356)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/2/b/52bbd8be-78e7-4275-83f6-3a90a87938ae/WindowsNT4Server-KB841356-x86-ENU.exe

Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows NT Server 4.0 (KB841356) - English
http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/2/b/52bbd8be-78e7-4275-83f6-3a90a87938ae/WindowsNT4Server-KB841356-x86-ENU.exe

Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB841356)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/9/3/993d53cd-edf9-4dbb-951f-e890b241c1cd/WindowsServer2003-KB841356-x86-enu.EXE

Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows Server 2003 64bit Edition & Windows XP 64bit Edition, V 2003 (KB841356)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/0/b/6/0b62fd0d-03dd-452e-8f95-295b74d99e2f/WindowsXP-KB841356-ia64-enu.exe

Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB841356)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/9/3/993d53cd-edf9-4dbb-951f-e890b241c1cd/WindowsServer2003-KB841356-x86-enu.EXE

Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows Server 2003 64bit Edition & Windows XP 64bit Edition, V 2003 (KB841356)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/0/b/6/0b62fd0d-03dd-452e-8f95-295b74d99e2f/WindowsXP-KB841356-ia64-enu.exe

Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB841356)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/9/3/993d53cd-edf9-4dbb-951f-e890b241c1cd/WindowsServer2003-KB841356-x86-enu.EXE

Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB841356)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/9/3/993d53cd-edf9-4dbb-951f-e890b241c1cd/WindowsServer2003-KB841356-x86-enu.EXE

Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows XP 64-bit Edition (KB841356)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/0/b/6/0b62fd0d-03dd-452e-8f95-295b74d99e2f/WindowsXP-KB841356-ia64-enu.exe

Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows Server 2003 64bit Edition & Windows XP 64bit Edition, V 2003 (KB841356)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/0/b/6/0b62fd0d-03dd-452e-8f95-295b74d99e2f/WindowsXP-KB841356-ia64-enu.exe

Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows XP (KB841356)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/6/b/56bbf80b-8644-45e0-a3c1-97de09f6fce5/WindowsXP-KB841356-x86-enu.exe

Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows XP (KB841356)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/6/b/56bbf80b-8644-45e0-a3c1-97de09f6fce5/WindowsXP-KB841356-x86-enu.exe

Microsoft Patch Security Update for Windows XP (KB841356)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/6/b/56bbf80b-8644-45e0-a3c1-97de09f6fce5/WindowsXP-KB841356-x86-enu.exe

References
Source: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-037
URL: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms04-037.mspx

Source: Microsoft Technet Security
URL: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security

Credits
Discovery of this vulnerability is credited to Andreas Sandblad.

Copyright (c) 2004 by Symantec Corp.
Permission to redistribute this alert electronically is granted as long as it is not edited in any way unless authorized by Symantec Security Response. Reprinting the whole or part of this alert in any medium other than electronically requires permission from symsecurity@symantec.com.

Disclaimer
The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing based on currently available information. Use of the information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are no warranties with regard to this information. Neither the author nor the publisher accepts any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on, this information.

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