iDefense Security Advisory 12.11.07 http://labs.idefense.com/intelligence/vulnerabilities/ Dec 11, 2007 I. BACKGROUND Microsoft DirectShow, part of Microsoft DirectX, is used for the capture and playback of multimedia streams on Microsoft Windows systems. Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange (SAMI) is a file format designed by Microsoft Corp. to deliver captions, subtitles, or audio descriptions synchronized with digital media content. http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms783323.aspx http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb248347.aspx II. DESCRIPTION Remote exploitation of a stack buffer overflow vulnerability in Microsoft Corp.'s DirectShow could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. This vulnerability exists in the DirextShow SAMI parser, which is implemented in quartz.dll. When the SAMI parser copies parameters into a stack buffer, it does not properly check the length of the parameter. As such, parsing a specially crafted SAMI file can cause a stack-based buffer overflow. This allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code. III. ANALYSIS Exploitation allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. In order to exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must persuade a user to open a malicious SAMI file. This can be accomplished by hosting a malicious SAMI file on a web site or by sending the malicious file to a user via e-mail or instant message. It is important to note that a SAMI file does not necessarily have to end with a .smi or .sami extension. DirectShow will identify the file based on the file contents. If "Web View Content" is enabled in Windows Explorer, which is the default setting, a single click will open the malicious file in the preview pane and trigger the vulnerability. DirectX 9.0c is listed as an optional update for Windows 2000 operating system in Windows Update site. It is not listed as a critical update. However, installing this update will remove this vulnerability. IV. DETECTION iDefense has confirmed Microsoft DirectX 7.x and Microsoft DirectX 8.x are vulnerable. Microsoft DirectX 9.0c or newer is not vulnerable. V. WORKAROUND To prevent exploitation of this vulnerability, upgrade to DirectX 9.0c or newer. If upgrading is not possible, you can prevent access to the vulnerable code by un-registering quartz.dll as shown below. However, this workaround will disable image, audio, and video rendering in DirectX-enabled applications. C:\> regsvr32 -u %windir%\system32\quartz.dll VI. VENDOR RESPONSE Microsoft has addressed this vulnerability within Microsoft Security Bulletin MS07-064. For more information, consult their bulletin at the following URL. http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS07-064.mspx VII. CVE INFORMATION The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project has assigned the name CVE-2007-3901 to this issue. This is a candidate for inclusion in the CVE list (http://cve.mitre.org/), which standardizes names for security problems. VIII. DISCLOSURE TIMELINE 09/28/2007 Initial vendor notification 10/09/2007 Initial vendor response 12/11/2007 Coordinated public disclosure IX. CREDIT This vulnerability was discovered by Jun Mao of VeriSign iDefense Labs. Get paid for vulnerability research http://labs.idefense.com/methodology/vulnerability/vcp.php Free tools, research and upcoming events http://labs.idefense.com/ X. LEGAL NOTICES Copyright © 2007 iDefense, Inc. Permission is granted for the redistribution of this alert electronically. It may not be edited in any way without the express written consent of iDefense. If you wish to reprint the whole or any part of this alert in any other medium other than electronically, please e-mail customerservice@idefense.com for permission. Disclaimer: The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing based on currently available information. Use of the information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are no warranties with regard to this information. Neither the author nor the publisher accepts any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on, this information.