UNC Path Can Be Used to Start Programs by Using .chm Files

View products that this article applies to.

This article was previously published under Q259166

SYMPTOMS

The HTML Help facility provides the ability to start code by using shortcuts included in HTML Help files. If a compiled HTML Help (.chm) file were referenced by a malicious Web site, it could be used to start code on a visiting user's computer without the user's approval. Such code could take any action that the user could take, including adding, changing, or deleting data, or communicating with a remote Web site.

This vulnerability is limited by the need for the malicious Web site operator to make the compiled HTML Help file accessible to the visiting user's computer. The patch described in this article removes this vulnerability by restricting the ability to use shortcuts to HTML Help files on the local computer.

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RESOLUTION

For Internet Explorer 5.01 on Windows 2000

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows 2000. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

260910 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/260910/EN-US/ ) How to Obtain the Latest Windows 2000 Service Pack

A patch is available that removes the vulnerability by restricting the ability to exercise shortcuts to HTML Help files on the local computer. The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

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Download Q259166_W2K_SP1_x86_en.exe now (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=2D9E639B-36DC-444F-B5DB-88109300C68C&displaylang=en)

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 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/119591/EN-US/ ) 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.

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For All Other Versions of Internet Explorer

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

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Download Hhupd.exe now (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms669985.aspx)

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 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/119591/EN-US/ ) 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 secure servers that prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

   Date        Time    Size     File name
   ---------------------------------------
   03/06/2000  10:32a  38,912   Hh.exe
   03/06/2000  11:52a  527,320  Hhctrl.ocx
   04/08/1999  09:35a  155,552  Itircl.dll
   04/08/1999  09:35a  138,048  Itss.dll

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STATUS

For Internet Explorer 5.01 on Windows 2000

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Internet Explorer 5.01 on Windows 2000. This problem was first corrected in Windows 2000 Service Pack 1.

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For All Other Versions of Internet Explorer

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

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MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about how to install Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 hotfixes at the same time, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

249149 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/249149/EN-US/ ) Installing Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 Hotfixes

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