Utility Manager may start the Winhlp32.exe program with increased security rights in Windows 2000 (833851)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

SYMPTOMS

If a service or program uses an interactive window and has turned on context-sensitive Help, the Utility Manager (Utilman.exe) starts the Winhlp32.exe program in the security context of the service. For example, if the service is running as a local system account, the Winhlp32.exe program also runs with local system credentials. A malicious attacker can take advantage of Utility Manager's behavior to take control of a computer.

RESOLUTION

Hotfix information

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 are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, 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.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel. 
   Date         Time     Size   File name
   ------------------------------------------
   20-Jan-2004  20:27    42256  Basesrv.dll    
   21-Sep-2003  00:45   236304  Cmd.exe        
   20-Jan-2004  20:27   222992  Cdi32.dll  
   20-Jan-2004  20:27   711440  Kernel32.dll     
   20-Jan-2004  20:27    54032  Mpr.dll 
   20-Jan-2004  20:27   334096  Msgina.dll    
   20-Jan-2004  20:27    90232  Rdpwd.sys    
   09-Jan-2004  01:41  5854720  Sp3res.dll  
   09-Jan-2004  02:18     6656  Spmsg.dll    
   20-Jan-2004  20:27   380688  User32.dll    
   20-Jan-2004  20:27   391952  Userenv.dll    
   15-Jan-2004  19:04  1630224  Win32k.sys

After you install this hotfix, the Utility Manager component no longer starts the Winhlp32.exe program. However, this fix may also prevent tool tip functionality for services or programs that run in the local system context. Tool tips are available to services or programs that run as the user who is logged on to the computer.

Security bulletin information

This hotfix is included in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-019.

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

842526 MS04-019: A vulnerability in Utility Manager could allow code execution

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

MORE INFORMATION

Typically, Utility Manager reduces user rights when it loads Help files. However, context-sensitive Help still starts the Winhlp32.exe program with system rights. An example of context-sensitive Help is when you click the ? button on the title bar and then click a Help item.

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/1/2006
Keywords:kbQFE kbHotfixServer kbWin2000preSP5fix kbWin2000SP5fix kbBug kbService kbhelp kbUser kbSecurity kbfix KB833851 kbAudEndUser kbAudITPRO
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.