Bloodhound.Exploit.59

SUMMARY

Bloodhound.Exploit.59 is a heuristic detection for the Vulnerability in Windows Media Player Could Allow Remote Code Execution (described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-005).

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Daily) February 14, 2006
• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) February 15, 2006
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) February 14, 2006
• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Plus) February 14, 2006

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.59 is a heuristic detection for the Vulnerability in Windows Media Player Could Allow Remote Code Execution.

An attacker who exploits this vulnerability could execute arbitrary code with the Local System privileges. The exploit is triggered by viewing a malformed bmp file that contains the exploit, which might exist on a web page.

Affects: Windows Media Player 7.1/9.0/10.0, Windows 2000 Professional/ME/XP SP2, Windows Server 2000/2003 SP1

Files that are detected as Bloodhound.Exploit.59 may be malicious. We suggest that you submit to Symantec Security Response any files that are detected as Bloodhound.Exploit.59. For instructions on how to do this using Scan and Deliver, read How to submit a file to Symantec Security Response using Scan and Deliver.

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.