Microsoft XML Core Services CVE-2014-4118 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Description

Microsoft XML Core Services is prone to a remote code-execution vulnerability. Attackers can exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code in the context of the currently logged-in user. Failed attacks will cause denial-of-service conditions.

Technologies Affected

• Avaya Aura Conferencing Standard Edition
• Avaya CallPilot
• Avaya Communication Server 1000 Telephony Manager
• 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
• Microsoft MSXML 3.0
• Microsoft Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems SP1
• Microsoft Windows 7 for x64-based Systems SP1
• Microsoft Windows 8 for 32-bit Systems
• Microsoft Windows 8 for 64-bit Systems
• Microsoft Windows 8.1 for 32-bit Systems
• Microsoft Windows 8.1 for 64-bit Systems
• Microsoft Windows RT 8.1
• Microsoft Windows RT
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Itanium SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems SP1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems SP1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems SP2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2012
• Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2
• Microsoft Windows Vista SP2
• Microsoft Windows Vista x64 Edition 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.

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 successful exploits.

Do not follow links provided by unknown or untrusted sources.
Web users should be cautious about following links to sites that are provided by unfamiliar or suspicious sources. Filtering HTML from emails may help remove a possible vector for transmitting malicious links to users.

Set web browser security to disable the execution of script code or active content.
Since a successful exploit of this issue requires malicious code to execute in web clients, consider disabling support for script code and active content within the client browser. 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.
Memory-protection schemes (such as nonexecutable stack and heap configurations and randomly mapped memory segments) will complicate exploits of memory-corruption vulnerabilities.

Updates are available. Please see the references or vendor advisory for more information.