Microsoft Windows Common Controls ActiveX Control CVE-2012-1856 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Description

Microsoft Windows Common Controls is prone to a remote code-execution vulnerability. An attacker can exploit this issue by enticing an unsuspecting user to view a malicious webpage. Successful exploits will allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context of the application (typically Internet Explorer) that uses the ActiveX control.

Technologies Affected

• Microsoft BizTalk Server 2002 SP1
• Microsoft Commerce Server 2002 SP4
• Microsoft Commerce Server 2007 SP2
• Microsoft Commerce Server 2009
• Microsoft Commerce Server 2009 R2
• Microsoft Host Integration Server 2004 SP1
• Microsoft Office 2003 SP3
• Microsoft Office 2003 Web Components SP3
• Microsoft Office 2007 SP2
• Microsoft Office 2007 SP3
• Microsoft Office 2010 (32-bit edition) SP1
• Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services SP4
• Microsoft SQL Server 2000 SP4
• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Serv SP1
• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Serv SP2
• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Serv SP3
• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Serv SP4
• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Itanium Edition SP4
• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 SP4
• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 x64 Edition SP4
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 32bit R2
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 32bit SP2
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 32bit SP3
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 itanium R2
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 itanium SP2
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 itanium SP3
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 x64 R2
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 x64 SP2
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 x64 SP3
• Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 Runtime
• Microsoft Visual FoxPro 8.0 SP1
• Microsoft Visual FoxPro 9.0 SP2

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.

Do not accept or execute files from untrusted or unknown sources.
Never accept files from untrusted or unknown sources, because they may be malicious in nature. Avoid opening email attachments from unknown or questionable sources.

Do not follow links provided by unknown or untrusted sources.
Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by enticing a user to visit a malicious website. Do not follow links provided by sources of questionable integrity.

Set web browser security to disable the execution of script code or active content.
Disable support for script code and active content within a client browser to reduce the chances of a successful exploit. Note that this mitigation tactic might adversely affect legitimate websites that rely on the execution of browser-based script code.

Implement multiple redundant layers of security.
Since this issue may be leveraged to execute code, we recommend memory-protection schemes, such as nonexecutable stack/heap configurations and randomly mapped memory segments. This tactic may complicate exploits of memory-corruption vulnerabilities.

The vendor released an advisory and updates. Please see the references for details.