Patch Available for Windows Media Player 6.4 and 7 Internet Shortcut Vulnerability (296138)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 6.4
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 7
This article was previously published under Q296138

SYMPTOMS

Microsoft has made a patch available to eliminate a security vulnerability that exists in Windows Media Player 6.4 and 7. This vulnerability could enable an attacker to read certain types of files from the computer of a user who visited the attacker's Web site. The vulnerability would not allow the attacker to add, change, or delete files, nor would it allow the attacker to take any administrative control over the computer.

Mitigating Factors

  • To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker would need to persuade a user to visit a particular Web page or open an HTML e-mail message the attacker had created.
  • The attacker would need to know the exact file name and location of every file they wanted to read by using this vulnerability.
  • On a computer that is running Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 or Microsoft Windows 2000, the attacker would need to know the exact location of the Temporary Files folder (which is unique for every user).

CAUSE

This problem can occur because Windows Media Player 6.4 and 7 store Internet shortcuts in the user's Temporary Files folder instead of the Internet Explorer cache. This could give an attacker an opportunity to create a file that contains HTML code on the user's computer and open it in the Local Computer Zone rather than the Internet Zone.

RESOLUTION

Windows Media Player 7

To resolve this problem, view the following Microsoft Web site to upgrade to Windows Media Player 7.1 or later:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/winmediaplayer/wmp71/7.1/W982KMe/EN-US/mp71.exe

For more information about Windows Media Technologies, see the following Microsoft web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/default.asp

Windows Media Player 6.4

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that you determine are at risk of attack. Evaluate the computer's physical accessibility, network and Internet connectivity, and other factors to determine the degree of risk to the computer. See the associated Microsoft Security Bulletin to help determine the degree of risk. This hotfix may receive additional testing. If the computer is sufficiently at risk, we recommend that you apply this hotfix now.

To resolve this problem immediately, download the hotfix by following the instructions later in this article or contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled, if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question. The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

DownloadDownload WMSU47357.exe now

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

119591 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 security-enhanced servers that help to 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
   -----------------------------------------------------
   01/31/2001  11:33p                  516  Control.xml
   05/03/2001  04:24p  6.4.7.1117  498,448  Dxm550.dll
   05/03/2001  05:02p  6.4.7.1117  525,312  Dxmasf.dll
   05/11/2001  09:28a                5,891  Eula.txt
   04/20/2001  04:33p  4.1.0.3925   28,160  Laprxy.dll
   04/20/2001  04:33p  4.1.0.3925   68,608  Logagent.exe
   04/05/2001  04:09p  6.4.9.1116  844,048  Msdxm.ocx
   04/05/2001  04:10p  6.4.7.1116  845,584  Msdxm550.ocx
   05/01/2001  05:08p  7.1.0.3055  274,432  Setup_wm.exe
   04/20/2001  01:14p  4.1.0.3925  251,904  Strmdll.dll
   12/06/2000  12:43a  7.0.0.1958   65,592  Wminf.exe
   05/08/2001  03:10p                8,636  Wmqfe.cat
   04/25/2001  04:10p                2,439  Wmqfe.inf

STATUS

Windows Media Player 7

Microsoft has confirmed that this problem may cause a degree of security vulnerability in Windows Media Player 7. This problem was first corrected in Windows Media Player 7.1.

Windows Media Player 6.4

Microsoft has confirmed that this problem may cause a degree of security vulnerability in Windows Media Player 6.4.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about this vulnerability and what else this patch fixes, please see the following Microsoft web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms01-029.asp

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/21/2005
Keywords:kbdownload kbenv kbgraphxlinkcritical kbprb kbQFE KB296138
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