MS02-008: XMLHTTP Control in MSXML 3.0 Can Allow Access to Local Files (318203)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft XML 3.0
  • Microsoft XML 3.0 SP1
  • Microsoft XML 3.0 SP2
This article was previously published under Q318203
For additional information on this vulnerability, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

317244 MS02-008: XMLHTTP Control in MSXML 4.0 Can Allow Access to Local Files

318202 MS02-008: XMLHTTP Control in MSXML 2.0 Can Allow Access to Local Files

SYMPTOMS

An information-disclosure vulnerability exists that can allow an attacker to read files on the local file system of a user who visits a specially malformed Web site.

The attacker would not be able to add, change, or delete files. Additionally, the attacker would not be able to use e-mail to carry out this attack; the vulnerability can only be exploited by way of a Web site. Customers who use caution when browsing and avoid visiting unknown or untrustworthy sites are at less risk from this vulnerability.

CAUSE

The vulnerability exists because the XMLHTTP control in the Microsoft XML Core Services does not respect the Internet Explorer Security Zone restrictions. This enables a Web page to specify a file on a user's local system as an XML data source as a means of reading the file.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Internet Explorer 6. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

328548 How to Obtain the Latest Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

DownloadDownload Q318203_MSXML30_x86_en.exe now

Release Date: February 21, 2002

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         Version     Size     File name     Platform
   --------------------------------------------------------
   15-Feb-2002  8.20.9415.0 1  1,120,768  Msxml3.dll    x86
Note To install the patch silently and without a restart, use the the following switches: /q:a /c:"dahotfix /q /n"

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this problem may cause a degree of security vulnerability in Microsoft XML 3.0. This problem was first corrected in Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1.

MORE INFORMATION

Affected versions of MSXML ship as part of several products. You must apply the patch to systems with any of the following Microsoft products:
  • Microsoft Windows XP
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2000
MSXML can also be installed separately. MSXML is installed as a DLL in the System32 subfolder of the Windows operating system folder. On most systems, this is C:\Windows or C:\winnt. If you have any or all of the following files in the System32 folder, you need the patch:
  • Msxml2.dll
  • Msxml3.dll
  • Msxml4.dll
If you have only Msxml.dll, you do not need the patch because this is an earlier, unaffected version.

For more information about this vulnerability, visi the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-008.mspx

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:4/7/2006
Keywords:kbQFE KBHotfixServer kbdownload kbbug kbfix kbSecurity kbSQLServ2000sp3fix kbIE600sp1fix KB318203
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