CVE-2001-0243 in Windows Media Player
Summary
by MITRE
Windows Media Player 7 and earlier stores Internet shortcuts in a user s Temporary Files folder with a fixed filename instead of in the Internet Explorer cache, which causes the HTML in those shortcuts to run in the Local Computer Zone instead of the Internet Zone, which allows remote attackers to read certain files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2019
This vulnerability exists in Windows Media Player versions 7 and earlier where the application handles internet shortcuts in an insecure manner that creates a privilege escalation risk. The flaw occurs because Windows Media Player stores these shortcuts in the user's temporary files directory using a predictable fixed filename rather than utilizing the proper Internet Explorer cache mechanisms. This design decision creates a security boundary violation that allows malicious actors to exploit the trust relationship between the application and the operating system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of HTML content within internet shortcuts. When Windows Media Player processes these shortcuts, it does not properly sandbox the execution environment, instead allowing the HTML content to run within the Local Computer Zone context. This zone has elevated privileges compared to the Internet Zone, which typically restricts access to local file system resources. The fixed filename used for storing these shortcuts creates a predictable path that attackers can exploit to place malicious content in the temporary directory, causing the player to execute it with increased privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file reading capabilities, as it represents a fundamental flaw in how the application manages trust boundaries for downloaded content. Attackers can leverage this weakness to access files that would normally be protected by the Internet Zone security policies, potentially leading to unauthorized data access and system compromise. The vulnerability affects systems where Windows Media Player is installed and used with internet shortcuts, creating a persistent threat vector that remains active as long as the vulnerable application exists on the system.
This issue aligns with CWE-22 which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and CWE-276 which addresses incorrect permissions for critical resources. The vulnerability also maps to attack techniques in the ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it leverages the trust relationship between the media player application and the user's temporary file system, making it difficult to detect and prevent through traditional security measures.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate application updates and system hardening measures. Users should upgrade to Windows Media Player versions that properly implement the Internet Explorer cache mechanisms and do not store shortcuts with fixed filenames in predictable locations. System administrators should implement restrictive permissions on temporary directories and monitor for unauthorized modifications to these locations. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of potentially malicious content from temporary directories, while also ensuring that the Windows Media Player application is properly configured to handle internet shortcuts through secure channels that maintain proper security boundaries between zones.