[NT] WebArchiveX Unsafe Methods Vulnerability

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  WebArchiveX Unsafe Methods Vulnerability
------------------------------------------------------------------------


SUMMARY

The  <http://www.csystems.co.il/webarchivex/index.aspx> WebArchiveX 
component gives developers the ability to include .MHT archive creation in 
their software and is compatible with a wide range of programming 
languages.

Prior to September 6th 2005, the WebArchiveX ActiveX component would 
install and mark itself 'safe for scripting'. The component offers various 
methods that when instantiated by a malicious web site, can be used to 
read files from, or write files to the local computer.

DETAILS

The component has an extensive API that can be viewed online:  
<http://www.csystems.co.il/WebArchiveX/help/api.html> 
http://www.csystems.co.il/WebArchiveX/help/api.html

This advisory concentrates on the two following methods;

* MakeArchive    - Build MHT web archive (single MHT file)
  Boolean MakeArchive(
     String htmlFile,
     String userAgent,
     String mhtFile
   );

The MakeArchive method will accept a local path as the mhtFile  parameter, 
allowing a malicious web site to write a file to the local drive. By 
writing to the startup folder, it is possible to create a .mht that will 
be executed locally at startup.

* MakeArchiveStr - Build MHT web archive and returns it as a string
  String MakeArchiveStr(
     String htmlFile,
     String userAgent
   );

The MakeArchiveStr method will accept a local path as the htmlFile 
parameter. After reading in the file, the contents will be returned to the 
calling script. This allows a malicious website to read the  contents of 
any file accessible by the current user.

Solutions:
 * The vendor has changed the default installation to remove the 'safe for 
scripting' entry, but unfortunately has not changed the version number. 
The download now includes a readme file that contains;

  Why WebArchiveX is not safe for scripting?
  ------------------------------------------

  If WebArchiveX was safe for scripting, then malicious websites
  could use WebArchiveX in order to read/write files from/to your
  local file system. Please contact [email protected] for
  further details!

  In order to make WebArchiveX safe for scripting you can import
  the enclosed Registry file WebArchiveX_SafeForScripting.reg.

 * To identify if this component is installed on your pc, search the 
registry for WebArchiveX entries.

 * If the entry is located, remove the 'safe for scripting' entry by 
removing these keys;
    \Implemented Categories\{7DD95801-9882-11CF-9FA9-00AA006C42C4}
    \Implemented Categories\{7DD95802-9882-11CF-9FA9-00AA006C42C4}

 * For additional help contact [email protected]


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The information has been provided by  
<mailto:[email protected]> Brett Moore.



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