How to implement URL validation in application development for Windows XP or for Windows Server 2003

Article ID: 943522 - View products that this article applies to.
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SUMMARY

This article contains guidance for software developers who want to implement URL validation in applications for Windows XP or for Windows Server 2003. Specifically, this article discusses what an application must do to validate URLs before passing them to Windows for execution.

MORE INFORMATION

The Windows Shell32 ShellExecute function enables applications to pass URLs. Applications must be carefully designed based on the threat environment. This is true for any program that uses URL handling to accept untrusted data.

Before passing URLs that will be executed by Windows Shell32, an application should do the following:
  1. The application should call the SHParseDisplayName function together with the URI string.
  2. If step 1 is successful, the application should call the ShellExecuteEx function together with the SEE_MASK_INVOKEIDLIST flag and the pointer to an item identifier list (PIDL).

Properties

Article ID: 943522 - Last Review: October 16, 2007 - Revision: 1.2
APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005
  • Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition for Itanium-Based Systems
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter x64 Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
Keywords: 
kbinfo kbexpertiseadvanced kbhowto KB943522
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