Title: Microsoft Internet Explorer About: URL Zone Spoofing Vulnerability
Severity: HIGH
Description:
Microsoft Internet Explorer contains security features which allow a user to define what actions a web site can take on the user's system, based on the type of Web Content Zone the web site falls under. For example, the security settings for the Local Intranet Zone are usually not as stringent as those for the Internet Zone.
A vulnerability exists in Internet Explorer which may allow malicious content to be executed in the context of the Local Intranet or Trusted Sites zone.
This occurs because Internet Explorer has problems in its handling of the About: pluggable protocol. Internet Explorer assumes that About: URLs are trusted. In this way, it is possible for a restricted site to spoof it's Web Content Zone by using an About: URL to deliver its content.
However, this may also be used by a remote website to perform actions in the security context of a Trusted Site or My Computer. This may be accomplished appending a percentage sign(%) to the end of the maliciously constructed About: URL.
It has been reported that it is possible for a remote website to execute arbitrary script code or open files as a result of this vulnerability.
Affected Products:
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 SP1
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 SP2
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
- Microsoft Windows ME
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition Itanium
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition Itanium
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Web Edition
- Microsoft Windows XP Home
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional
References:
- the Pull <osioniusx@yahoo.com>: Cross-Frame, About Pluggable Protocol, Security Zone Spoofing
Juniper Networks provides this content via a wide variety of sources and production methods. If notified of errors or omissions in the content of this page, Juniper Networks, at its discretion, will modify or remove the page or leave the content as is, depending on various factors including but not limited to the reputation and authority of the party providing the notification. Please use the contact information displayed elsewhere on this page to report any errors or omissions regarding the content on this page.
