Microsoft Content Management Server flaws allow system compromise

Risk
High

Date Discovered
07-12-2002

Description
Three vulnerabilities have been identified in Microsoft Content Management Server (MCMS). The effects of exploitation range from a denial-of-service attack to gaining root access.

Microsoft Content Management Server enables companies to quickly and efficiently build, deploy, and maintain Web sites. Using MCMS, companies can create, publish, and manage Web content, as well as manage the server resources that are available to the site.

The first vulnerability is a buffer overflow that exists in a function that performs user authentication. At least one Web page that is included with MCMS 2001 passes inputs directly to this function that could provide a way for an attacker to overrun the buffer. Exploitation of the vulnerability causes MCMS to fail, resulting in a denial of service. Additionally, code may be run in the context of the MCMS service, which runs as Local System. The potential risk is significantly reduced if the URLScan tool is deployed on the server. In this case, that the vulnerability might only be used for denial-of-service attacks.

Another vulnerability results from the convergence of two flaws that affect a function used to upload files to the server. The first flaw is improper request authentication. Any user can submit an upload request. The second flaw is that it is possible to override the upload location. The function should upload files to a folder that only privileged users can access; it can, however, be overridden to upload files to a temporary folder that allows access by unprivileged users. By exploiting the two flaws in tandem, an attacker could upload an .asp or other file to the server in a location from which it could be executed. Although the attacker does not gain administrative privileges, the attacker's code would execute in the security context of the Web Application Manager, which has similar privileges to those of an interactively logged-on user.

The third vulnerability is in a function that services requests for image files and other resources. Exploitation of this vulnerability could enable an attacker to run SQL commands on the server, which would not only allow data in the MCMS database to be added, changed, or deleted, but would enable the attacker to run operating system commands on the server. Exploitation of this SQL injection vulnerability does not grant the attacker administrative privileges on the server. Instead, any operating system commands would be levied in the security context of the SQL Server 2000 service, which has only Domain User privileges by default.

Platforms Affected
Windows

Components Affected
Microsoft Content Management Server 2001

Patch: Microsoft Content Management Server Patch Q326075

Upgrade your system with this Patch for Unchecked Buffer in Content Management Server Could Enable Server Compromise (Q326075).

References
Source: CVE CAN-2002-0700
URL: http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2002-0700

Source: Microsoft MS02-041
URL: http://microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-041.asp

Source: CIAC M-107
URL: http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/bulletins/m-107.shtml

Source: securityfocus Microsoft Content Management Server 2001 User Authentication Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
URL: http://online.securityfocus.com/bid/5420

Source: securityfocus Microsoft Content Management Server 2001 Arbitrary Upload Location Vulnerability
URL: http://online.securityfocus.com/bid/5421

Source: securityfocus Microsoft Content Management Server 2001 SQL Injection Vulnerability
URL: http://online.securityfocus.com/bid/5422

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