This update addresses a security vulnerability in the Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions 2002 product, and only needs to be applied to systems with FrontPage Server Extensions installed. --- MS02-053: Request to SmartHTML Interpreter May Monopolize Web Server CPU Resources Article ID: 324096 Last Review: June 21, 2004 Revision: 1.0 This article was previously published under Q324096 # SYMPTOMS SmartHTML Interpreter (Shtml.dll) is part of FrontPage Server Extensions; it provides support for Web forms and other FrontPage-based dynamic content. The interpreter contains a flaw that occurs when it processes a request for a particular type of Web file if the request includes certain other characteristics. Such a request may cause the interpreter to consume most or all CPU availability until the Web service is restarted. An attacker might be able to use this vulnerability to conduct a denial-of-service attack against an affected Web server. Mitigating Factors - The vulnerability does not provide any way to take any broader action on the server. It does not permit an attacker to add, delete, or modify data on the server. -The IIS Lockdown Tool, if it is used to configure a static Web server, turns off SmartHTML Interpreter. Servers on which this tool has been used cannot be affected by the vulnerability. - By default, FrontPage Server Extensions is installed on Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0 and Microsoft Internet Information Services 5.0 and 5.1, but can be removed. Servers on which Internet Information Server or Internet Information Services has been removed cannot be affected by the vulnerability. # RESOLUTION FrontPage 2002 Server Extensions from Microsoft For additional information about the security update, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 329086 FP2002: FrontPage 2002 Server Extensions Security Update: September 25, 2002 The English-language version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table: 10.0.4219.0 Fp5awel.dll Microsoft also recommends that you install the FrontPage 2002 Server Extensions Update that was released in January, 2002. For additional information about the update, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: --- FrontPage 2000 Server Extensions from Microsoft For additional information about the security update, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 329085 FP2000: FrontPage 2000 Server Extensions Security Update: September 25, 2002 The English-language version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table: 4.0.2.6426 Fp4awel.dll --- Windows XP A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that you determine are at risk of attack. Evaluate your computer's physical accessibility, network and Internet connectivity, and other factors to determine the degree of risk to your computer. See the associated Microsoft Security Bulletin to help determine the degree of risk. This fix may receive additional testing. If your computer is sufficiently at risk, Microsoft recommends that you apply this fix now. Otherwise, wait for the next Windows XP that contains this fix. To resolve this problem immediately, download the fix by following the instructions later in this article or contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question. Download Information The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center: English (US): http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?releaseid=42995 Installation Options You must restart your computer after you apply this update. This update supports the following Setup switches: -?: Display the list of installation switches. -u: Unattended mode. -f: Force other programs to quit when the computer shuts down. -n: Do not back up files for removal. -o: Overwrite OEM files without prompting. -z: Do not restart when installation is complete. -q: Quiet mode (no user interaction). -l: List installed hotfixes. -x Extracts the files without running Setup. For example, the following command line installs the update without any user intervention and then does not force the computer to restart: Q324096_wxp_sp1_x86_enu -u -q -z WARNING: Your computer is vulnerable until you restart it. File Information The English version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel. 22-Jun-2002 10:37PM 10.0.4219.0 1382984 Fp5awel.dll NOTE: Because of file dependencies, this update may contain additional files. --- Windows 2000 Service Pack Information The Windows 2000 version of this security patch is included in Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP4) for systems that are running FrontPage 2000 Server Extensions. If you use any other version of FrontPage Server Extensions, you must install the patch for MS02-053 separately. To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Windows 2000. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 260910 How to Obtain the Latest Windows 2000 Service Pack --- Windows 2000 Hotfix Information A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that you determine are at risk of attack. Evaluate your computer's physical accessibility, network and Internet connectivity, and other factors to determine the degree of risk to your computer. See the associated Microsoft Security Bulletin to help determine the degree of risk. This fix may receive additional testing. If your computer is sufficiently at risk, Microsoft recommends that you apply this fix now. Otherwise, wait for the next Windows 2000 that contains this fix. To resolve this problem immediately, download the fix by following the instructions later in this article or contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question. Download Information The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center: http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/security/q324096/default.asp Release Date: September 25, 2002 Installation Options You must restart your computer after you apply this update. This update supports the following Setup switches: -?: Display the list of installation switches. -u: Unattended mode. -f: Force other programs to quit when the computer shuts down. -n: Do not back up files for removal. -o: Overwrite OEM files without prompting. -z: Do not restart when installation is complete. -q: Quiet mode (no user interaction). -l: List installed hotfixes. -x Extracts the files without running Setup. For example, the following command line installs the update without any user intervention and then does not force the computer to restart: q318138_w2k_sp3_x86_en /q /m /z WARNING: Your computer is vulnerable until you restart it. File Information The English version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel. 27-Apr-2002 12:34PM 4.0.2.6426 872557 ???\fp4awel.dll NOTE: Because of file dependencies, this update may contain additional files. This update requires Windows 2000 Service Pack 2 (SP2) or Service Pack 1 (SP1). # STATUS Microsoft has confirmed that this problem may cause a degree of security vulnerability in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was first corrected in Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4. # MORE INFORMATION For more information about this vulnerability, visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-053.mspx # APPLIES TO - Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 1 - Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 - Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 2 - Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP1 - Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP2 - Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP3 - Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 1 - Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 2 - Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 - FrontPage 2002 Server Extensions from Microsoft - FrontPage 2000 Server Extensions from Microsoft - Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition - Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition Keywords: kbbug kbfix kbwin2000presp4fix kbsecvulnerability kbsysadmin kbsecurity kbsecbulletin kbsechack kbwinxppresp2fix kbwin2ksp4fix KB324096