Bloodhound.Exploit.10

SUMMARY

Bloodhound.Exploit.10 is a heuristic detection for a Microsoft Internet Explorer cross-zone scripting exploit. This exploit uses redirection and delayed script injection through a modal dialog box.

This vulnerability was originally reported on June 6, 2004. Refer to http://securityfocus.com/archive/1/365293 for additional information.

The Microsoft update that fixes this vulnerability is described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-025. Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (867801).

Note: We suggest that you submit to Symantec Security Response any files that are detected as Bloodhound.Exploit.10. For instructions on how to do this using Scan and Deliver, read the document How to submit a file to Symantec Security Response using Scan and Deliver.

Behavior

Symptoms

Transmission

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) June 13, 2004
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) June 10, 2004

Threat Assessment

Wild

• Wild Level: Low
• Number of Infections: 0 - 49
• Number of Sites: 0 - 2
• Geographical Distribution: Low
• Threat Containment: Easy
• Removal: Easy

Damage

• Damage Level: Low

Distribution

• Distribution Level: Low

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Bloodhound.Exploit.10 is a heuristic detection for Trojan horses, hacker tools, and worms attempting to exploit the Microsoft Internet Explorer Modal Dialog Zone Bypass Vulnerability through certain vectors.

Recommendations

Symantec Security Response encourages all users and administrators to adhere to the following basic security "best practices":

• Turn off and remove unneeded services. By default, many operating systems install auxiliary services that are not critical, such as an FTP server, telnet, and a Web server. These services are avenues of attack. If they are removed, blended threats have less avenues of attack and you have fewer services to maintain through patch updates.
• If a blended threat exploits one or more network services, disable, or block access to, those services until a patch is applied.
• Always keep your patch levels up-to-date, especially on computers that host public services and are accessible through the firewall, such as HTTP, FTP, mail, and DNS services (for example, all Windows-based computers should have the current Service Pack installed.). Additionally, please apply any security updates that are mentioned in this writeup, in trusted Security Bulletins, or on vendor Web sites.
• Enforce a password policy. Complex passwords make it difficult to crack password files on compromised computers. This helps to prevent or limit damage when a computer is compromised.
• Configure your email server to block or remove email that contains file attachments that are commonly used to spread viruses, such as .vbs, .bat, .exe, .pif and .scr files.
• Isolate infected computers quickly to prevent further compromising your organization. Perform a forensic analysis and restore the computers using trusted media.
• Train employees not to open attachments unless they are expecting them. Also, do not execute software that is downloaded from the Internet unless it has been scanned for viruses. Simply visiting a compromised Web site can cause infection if certain browser vulnerabilities are not patched.