Microsoft Security Bulletin for the Month of May

Number: AV10-014
Date: 11 May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this advisory is to bring attention to the monthly Microsoft security bulletin which addresses 2 Critical vulnerabilities.

Assessment

Microsoft has released the following security bulletins:

MS10-030 - Vulnerability in Outlook Express and Windows Mail Could Allow Remote Code Execution (978542)
Details: This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Outlook Express, Windows Mail, and Windows Live Mail. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a user visits a malicious e-mail server. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the local user. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.
Impact of Vulnerability: Remote Code Execution 
Maximum Severity Rating: Critical
Maximum Exploitability Index: 2 - Inconsistent exploit code likely
Affected Products: Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2.
CVE reference: CVE-2010-0816
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS10-030.mspx

MS10-031 - Vulnerability in Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications Could Allow Remote Code Execution (978213)
Details: This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a host application opens and passes a specially crafted file to the Visual Basic for Applications runtime. If a user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.
Impact of Vulnerability: Remote Code Execution
Maximum Severity Rating: Critical
Maximum Exploitability Index: 2 - Inconsistent exploit code likely
Affected Products: Microsoft Office XP, Office 2003, 2007 Office System, and Visual Basic for Applications SDK.
CVE reference: CVE-2010-0815
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms10-031.mspx

Suggested action

CCIRC recommends that administrators test and deploy these updates at the earliest opportunity. Microsoft has published a risk matrix table to assist organizations in evaluating and prioritizing deployment of these security updates. This table is available at the following URL:
http://blogs.technet.com/msrc/archive/2010/05/11/may-2010-security-bulletin-release.aspx

References:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms10-may.mspx

Note to Readers

The Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre (CCIRC) provides a focal point for Canada's cyber threat and vulnerability warning, analysis and response. CCIRC is responsible for assuring the resilience of national critical infrastructure through monitoring threats and coordinating a federal response to cyber security incidents of national interest. CCIRC operates in conjunction with the Government Operations Centre (GOC) within Public Safety Canada and is a key component of the government's all-hazards approach to emergency management and national security.

For general information, please contact Public Safety Canada's Public Affairs division at:

Telephone: 613-944-4875 or 1-800-830-3118
Fax: 613-998-9589
E-mail: communications@ps-sp.gc.ca