Security Bulletin
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS13-094 - Important
Vulnerability in Microsoft Outlook Could Allow Information Disclosure (2894514)
Published: November 12, 2013
Version: 1.0
General Information
Executive Summary
This security update resolves a publicly disclosed vulnerability in Microsoft Outlook. The vulnerability could allow information disclosure if a user opens or previews a specially crafted email message using an affected edition of Microsoft Outlook. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could ascertain system information, such as the IP address and open TCP ports, from the target system and other systems that share the network with the target system.
This security update is rated Important for all supported editions of Microsoft Outlook 2007, Microsoft Outlook 2010, Microsoft Outlook 2013, and Microsoft Outlook 2013 RT. For more information, see the subsection, Affected and Non-Affected Software, in this section.
The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting the way that Microsoft Outlook parses specially crafted S/MIME email messages. For more information about the vulnerabilities, see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) subsection for the specific vulnerability entry under the next section, Vulnerability Information.
Recommendation. Customers can configure automatic updating to check online for updates from Microsoft Update by using the Microsoft Update service. Customers who have automatic updating enabled and configured to check online for updates from Microsoft Update typically will not need to take any action because this security update will be downloaded and installed automatically. Customers who have not enabled automatic updating need to check for updates from Microsoft Update and install this update manually. For information about specific configuration options in automatic updating, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 294871.
For administrators and enterprise installations, or end users who want to install this security update manually, Microsoft recommends that customers apply the update at the earliest opportunity using update management software, or by checking for updates using the Microsoft Update service.
See also the section, Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance, later in this bulletin.
Knowledge Base Article
| Knowledge Base Article | 2894514 |
|---|---|
| File information | Yes |
| SHA1/SHA2 hashes | Yes |
| Known issues | Yes |
Affected and Non-Affected Software
The following software has been tested to determine which versions or editions are affected. Other versions or editions are either past their support life cycle or are not affected. To determine the support life cycle for your software version or edition, see Microsoft Support Lifecycle.
Affected Software
| Microsoft Office Software | Component | Maximum Security Impact | Aggregate Severity Rating | Updates Replaced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Office 2007 | ||||
| Microsoft Office 2007 Service Pack 3 | Microsoft Outlook 2007 Service Pack 3 (2825644) | Information Disclosure | Important | 2825999 in MS13-068 |
| Microsoft Office 2010 | ||||
| Microsoft Office 2010 Service Pack 1 (32-bit editions) | Microsoft Outlook 2010 Service Pack 1 (32-bit editions) (2837597) | Information Disclosure | Important | 2794707 in MS13-068 |
| Microsoft Office 2010 Service Pack 2 (32-bit editions) | Microsoft Outlook 2010 Service Pack 2 (32-bit editions) (2837597) | Information Disclosure | Important | 2794707 in MS13-068 |
| Microsoft Office 2010 Service Pack 1 (64-bit editions) | Microsoft Outlook 2010 Service Pack 1 (64-bit editions) (2837597) | Information Disclosure | Important | 2794707 in MS13-068 |
| Microsoft Office 2010 Service Pack 2 (64-bit editions) | Microsoft Outlook 2010 Service Pack 2 (64-bit editions) (2837597) | Information Disclosure | Important | 2794707 in MS13-068 |
| Microsoft Office 2013 | ||||
| Microsoft Office 2013 (32-bit editions) | Microsoft Outlook 2013 (32-bit editions) (2837618) | Information Disclosure | Important | None |
| Microsoft Office 2013 (64-bit editions) | Microsoft Outlook 2013 (64-bit editions) (2837618) | Information Disclosure | Important | None |
| Microsoft Office 2013 RT | ||||
| Microsoft Office 2013 RT | Microsoft Outlook 2013 RT[1] (2837618) | Information Disclosure | Important | None |
[1]This update is available via Windows Update.
Non-Affected Software
| Office and Other Software |
|---|
| Microsoft Outlook 2003 Service Pack 3 |
Update FAQ
Does this update contain any security-related changes to functionality?
Yes. In addition to the changes that are listed in the Vulnerability Information section of this bulletin, this update adds the functionality to specify, via a registry key setting, whether or not Microsoft Outlook will retrieve remote certificates referenced in an Authority Information Access (AIA) extension. For more information about this change, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2894514.
I am being offered this update for software I do not have installed on my system. Why am I being offered this update?
Due to the servicing model for Microsoft Office updates, you may be offered updates for software that you do not have installed on your system. For example, you may be offered an update for a Microsoft Office product even though you do not have the specific Office product installed. For more information on this behavior and recommended actions, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 830335.
I am using an older release of the software discussed in this security bulletin. What should I do?
The affected software listed in this bulletin has been tested to determine which releases are affected. Other releases are past their support life cycle. For more information about the product lifecycle, see the Microsoft Support Lifecycle website.
It should be a priority for customers who have older releases of the software to migrate to supported releases to prevent potential exposure to vulnerabilities. To determine the support lifecycle for your software release, see Select a Product for Lifecycle Information. For more information about service packs for these software releases, see Service Pack Lifecycle Support Policy.
Customers who require custom support for older software must contact their Microsoft account team representative, their Technical Account Manager, or the appropriate Microsoft partner representative for custom support options. Customers without an Alliance, Premier, or Authorized Contract can contact their local Microsoft sales office. For contact information, see the Microsoft Worldwide Information website, select the country in the Contact Information list, and then click Go to see a list of telephone numbers. When you call, ask to speak with the local Premier Support sales manager. For more information, see the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ.
Vulnerability Information
Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers
The following severity ratings assume the potential maximum impact of the vulnerability. For information regarding the likelihood, within 30 days of this security bulletin's release, of the exploitability of the vulnerability in relation to its severity rating and security impact, please see the Exploitability Index in the November bulletin summary. For more information, see Microsoft Exploitability Index.
| Affected Software | S/MIME AIA Vulnerability - CVE-2013-3905 | Aggregate Severity Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Office 2007 | ||
| Microsoft Outlook 2007 Service Pack 3 | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Microsoft Office 2010 | ||
| Microsoft Outlook 2010 Service Pack 1 (32-bit editions) | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Microsoft Outlook 2010 Service Pack 2 (32-bit editions) | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Microsoft Outlook 2010 Service Pack 1 (64-bit editions) | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Microsoft Outlook 2010 Service Pack 2 (64-bit editions) | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Microsoft Office 2013 | ||
| Microsoft Outlook 2013 (32-bit editions) | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Microsoft Outlook 2013 (64-bit editions) | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Microsoft Office 2013 RT | ||
| Microsoft Outlook 2013 RT | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
S/MIME AIA Vulnerability - CVE-2013-3905
An information disclosure vulnerability exists when Microsoft Outlook does not properly handle the expansion of S/MIME certificate metadata. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could ascertain system information, such as the IP address and open TCP ports, from the target system and other systems that share the network with the target system.
To view this vulnerability as a standard entry in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures list, see CVE-2013-3905.
Mitigating Factors
Microsoft has not identified any mitigating factors for this vulnerability.
Workarounds
Workaround refers to a setting or configuration change that does not correct the underlying vulnerability but would help block known attack vectors before you apply the update. Microsoft has tested the following workarounds and states in the discussion whether a workaround reduces functionality:
Disable the Reading Pane in Outlook
Disabling the Reading Pane prevents malicious S/MIME certificates from being processed in Outlook. While this prevents malicious certificates from being processed in Outlook, it does not prevent a local, authenticated user from running a specially crafted program to exploit this vulnerability. Opening an affected email message could still cause the malicious certificate to be loaded and processed.
To disable the Reading Pane in Outlook 2007, see Turn the Reading Pane on or off.
To disable the Reading Pane in Outlook 2010, see Turn on or off the Reading Pane.
To disable the Reading Pane in Outlook 2013, see Turn on or off the Reading Pane.
FAQ
What is the scope of the vulnerability?
This is an information disclosure vulnerability.
What causes the vulnerability?
The vulnerability is caused when Microsoft Outlook does not properly handle the expansion of S/MIME certificate metadata, allowing system information to be disclosed.
What is S/MIME?
S/MIME stands for Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions. S/MIME provides a consistent way to send and receive MIME encoded data securely. Based on the popular Internet MIME standard, S/MIME provides the following cryptographic security services for electronic messaging applications: authentication, message integrity and non-repudiation of origin (using digital signatures), and privacy and data security (using encryption). For more information, see Understanding S/MIME.
What might an attacker use the vulnerability to do?
An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could ascertain system information, such as the IP address and open TCP ports, from the target system and other systems that share the network with the target system
How could an attacker exploit the vulnerability?
In an email attack scenario, an attacker could exploit the vulnerability by sending a specially crafted S/MIME certificate in an email message to the user, and then convincing the user to preview or open the email.
Exploitation of this vulnerability requires that a user open or preview a specially crafted email message with an affected version of Microsoft Outlook.
What systems are primarily at risk from the vulnerability?
Systems such as workstations and terminal servers where Microsoft Outlook is used are primarily at risk. Servers could be at more risk if administrators allow users to log on to servers and to run programs. However, best practices strongly discourage allowing this.
What does the update do?
The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting the way that Microsoft Outlook parses specially crafted S/MIME certificates in an email message.
When this security bulletin was issued, had this vulnerability been publicly disclosed?
Yes. This vulnerability has been publicly disclosed. It has been assigned Common Vulnerability and Exposure number CVE-2013-3905.
When this security bulletin was issued, had Microsoft received any reports that this vulnerability was being exploited?
No. Microsoft had not received any information to indicate that this vulnerability had been publicly used to attack customers when this security bulletin was originally issued.
Update Information
Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance
Several resources are available to help administrators deploy security updates.
- Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) lets administrators scan local and remote systems for missing security updates and common security misconfigurations.
- Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), Systems Management Server (SMS), and System Center Configuration Manager help administrators distribute security updates.
- The Update Compatibility Evaluator components included with Application Compatibility Toolkit aid in streamlining the testing and validation of Windows updates against installed applications.
For more information about these tools and guidance in deploying security updates across networks, see Security Tools for IT Pros.
Security Update Deployment
Affected Software
For information about the specific security update for your affected software, click the appropriate link:
Microsoft Outlook 2007 (all editions)
Reference Table
The following table contains the security update information for this software.
| Security update file name | For Microsoft Outlook 2007:\ outlook2007-kb2825644-fullfile-x86-glb.exe |
|---|---|
| Installation switches | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 912203 |
| Restart requirement | In some cases, this update does not require a restart. If the required files are being used, this update will require a restart. If this behavior occurs, a message appears that advises you to restart.\ \ To help reduce the chance that a restart will be required, stop all affected services and close all applications that may use the affected files prior to installing the security update. For more information about the reasons why you may be prompted to restart, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 887012. |
| Removal information | Use Add or Remove Programs item in Control Panel. |
| File information | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2825644 |
| Registry key verification | Not applicable |
Microsoft Outlook 2010 (all editions)
Reference Table
The following table contains the security update information for this software.
| Security update file name | For Microsoft Outlook 2010 (32-bit editions):\ outlook2010-kb2837597-fullfile-x86-glb.exe |
|---|---|
| For Microsoft Outlook 2010 (64-bit editions):\ outlook2010-kb2837597-fullfile-x64-glb.exe | |
| Installation switches | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 912203 |
| Restart requirement | In some cases, this update does not require a restart. If the required files are being used, this update will require a restart. If this behavior occurs, a message appears that advises you to restart.\ \ To help reduce the chance that a restart will be required, stop all affected services and close all applications that may use the affected files prior to installing the security update. For more information about the reasons why you may be prompted to restart, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 887012. |
| Removal information | Use Add or Remove Programs item in Control Panel. |
| File information | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2837597 |
| Registry key verification | Not applicable |
Microsoft Outlook 2013 (all editions)
Reference Table
The following table contains the security update information for this software.
| Security update file name | For Microsoft Outlook 2013 (32-bit editions):\ outlookloc2013-kb2837618-fullfile-x86-glb.exe |
|---|---|
| For Microsoft Outlook 2013 (64-bit editions):\ outlookloc2013-kb2837618-fullfile-x64-glb.exe | |
| Installation switches | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 912203 |
| Restart requirement | In some cases, this update does not require a restart. If the required files are being used, this update will require a restart. If this behavior occurs, a message appears that advises you to restart.\ \ To help reduce the chance that a restart will be required, stop all affected services and close all applications that may use the affected files prior to installing the security update. For more information about the reasons why you may be prompted to restart, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 887012. |
| Removal information | Use Add or Remove Programs item in Control Panel. |
| File information | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2837618 |
| Registry key verification | Not applicable |
Microsoft Outlook 2013 RT (all editions)
Reference Table
The following table contains the security update information for this software.
| Deployment | The 2837618 update for Microsoft Outlook 2013 RT is available via Windows Update. |
|---|---|
| Restart requirement | In some cases, this update does not require a restart. If the required files are being used, this update will require a restart. If this behavior occurs, a message appears that advises you to restart.\ \ To help reduce the chance that a restart will be required, stop all affected services and close all applications that may use the affected files prior to installing the security update. For more information about the reasons why you may be prompted to restart, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 887012. |
| Removal information | Click Control Panel, click System and Security, click Windows Update, and then under See also, click Installed updates and select from the list of updates. |
| File information | See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2837618 |
Other Information
Acknowledgments
Microsoft thanks the following for working with us to help protect customers:
- Alexander Klink of n.runs professionals GmbH for reporting the S/MIME AIA Vulnerability (CVE-2013-3905)
Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP)
To improve security protections for customers, Microsoft provides vulnerability information to major security software providers in advance of each monthly security update release. Security software providers can then use this vulnerability information to provide updated protections to customers via their security software or devices, such as antivirus, network-based intrusion detection systems, or host-based intrusion prevention systems. To determine whether active protections are available from security software providers, please go to the active protections websites provided by program partners, listed in Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP) Partners.
Support
How to obtain help and support for this security update
- Help installing updates: Support for Microsoft Update
- Security solutions for IT professionals: TechNet Security Troubleshooting and Support
- Help protect your computer that is running Windows from viruses and malware: Virus Solution and Security Center
- Local support according to your country: International Support
Disclaimer
The information provided in the Microsoft Knowledge Base is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Microsoft disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event shall Microsoft Corporation or its suppliers be liable for any damages whatsoever including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, loss of business profits or special damages, even if Microsoft Corporation or its suppliers have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages so the foregoing limitation may not apply.
Revisions
- V1.0 (November 12, 2013): Bulletin published.
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