Microsoft Windows Media Decompression (CVE-2010-1879) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Description

Microsoft Windows is prone to a remote code-execution vulnerability when handling compressed media files. An attacker can exploit this issue by enticing an unsuspecting user to open a malicious file. A successful exploit may allow arbitrary code to run in the context of the currently logged-in user. Failed attack attempts may result in a denial-of-service condition.

Technologies Affected

• Avaya Meeting Exchange - Client Registration Server
• Avaya Meeting Exchange - Recording Server
• Avaya Meeting Exchange - Streaming Server
• Avaya Meeting Exchange - Web Conferencing Server
• Avaya Meeting Exchange - Webportal
• Avaya Messaging Application Server 4
• Avaya Messaging Application Server 5
• Avaya Messaging Application Server
• Avaya Messaging Application Server MM 1.1
• Avaya Messaging Application Server MM 2.0
• Avaya Messaging Application Server MM 3.0
• Avaya Messaging Application Server MM 3.1
• Microsoft Asycfilt.dll
• Microsoft Quartz
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP1
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP2
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP3
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP4
• Microsoft Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems
• Microsoft Windows 7 for Itanium-based Systems
• Microsoft Windows 7 for x64-based Systems
• Microsoft Windows Media Encoder 9
• Microsoft Windows Media Encoder 9 x64
• Microsoft Windows Media Format Runtime 11
• Microsoft Windows Media Format Runtime 9
• Microsoft Windows Media Format Runtime 9.5
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition Itanium
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition Itanium SP1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition SP1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter x64 Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter x64 Edition SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition Itanium
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition Itanium SP1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition SP1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise x64 Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise x64 Edition SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Itanium
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Itanium SP1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Itanium SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition SP1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard x64 Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Web Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Web Edition SP1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Web Edition SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 SP1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Datacenter Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Datacenter Edition SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems R2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems R2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems SP2
• Microsoft Windows Vista
• Microsoft Windows Vista Business 64-bit edition
• Microsoft Windows Vista Business 64-bit edition SP1
• Microsoft Windows Vista Business 64-bit edition SP2
• Microsoft Windows Vista Business
• Microsoft Windows Vista Business SP1
• Microsoft Windows Vista Business SP2
• Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit edition
• Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit edition SP1
• Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit edition SP2
• Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise
• Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise SP1
• Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise SP2
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit edition
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit edition SP1
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit edition SP2
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic SP1
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic SP2
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit edition
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit edition SP1
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit edition SP2
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP2
• Microsoft Windows Vista SP1
• Microsoft Windows Vista SP2
• Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition
• Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition SP1
• Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition SP2
• Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate
• Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1
• Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP2
• Microsoft Windows Vista x64 Edition
• Microsoft Windows Vista x64 Edition SP1
• Microsoft Windows Vista x64 Edition SP2
• Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition SP1
• Microsoft Windows XP
• Microsoft Windows XP Home
• Microsoft Windows XP Home SP1
• Microsoft Windows XP Home SP2
• Microsoft Windows XP Home SP3
• Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition SP1
• Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition SP2
• Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition SP3
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP1
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP3
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition SP2
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition SP3

Recommendations

Run all software as a nonprivileged user with minimal access rights.
To reduce the impact of latent vulnerabilities, always run nonadministrative software as an unprivileged user with minimal access rights.

Deploy network intrusion detection systems to monitor network traffic for malicious activity.
Deploy NIDS to monitor network traffic for signs of anomalous or suspicious activity. This includes but is not limited to requests that include NOP sleds and unexplained incoming and outgoing traffic. This may indicate exploit attempts or activity that results from a successful exploit.

Do not accept or execute files from untrusted or unknown sources.
To reduce the likelihood of successful attacks, never handle or open files from unknown sources.

Do not follow links provided by unknown or untrusted sources.
To reduce the likelihood of successful exploits, never visit sites of questionable integrity or follow links provided by unfamiliar or untrusted sources.

Implement multiple redundant layers of security.
Various memory-protection schemes (such as nonexecutable and randomly mapped memory segments) may hinder an attacker’s ability to exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code. Host-based intrusion-prevention systems may also help prevent exploits.

Updates are available; please see the references for more information.