Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS00-051)

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Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS00-051)
- --------------------------------------

Patch Available for "Excel REGISTER.ID Function" Vulnerability
Originally posted: July 26, 2000

Summary
=======
Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates a security
vulnerability in Microsoft(r) Microsoft Excel 97 and Excel 2000. The
vulnerability could allow a malicious user to run code from an Excel
worksheet without the user's knowledge.

Frequently asked questions regarding this vulnerability and the patch
can be found at:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/fq00-051.asp

Issue
=====
A vulnerability has been discovered in REGISTER.ID, a worksheet
function, when referencing a DLL created by a malicious user. When
REGISTER.ID is invoked from an Excel worksheet it can reference any
DLL on the system and can be harmful if the referenced DLL contains
malicious code. By design, there is no warning given to the user when
REGISTER.ID calls a DLL, from a worksheet.
In order for a malicious user to exploit this vulnerability the
referenced (malicious) DLL would have to reside on the affected
user's computer or on a machine accessible via a UNC path on the
user's network.

Affected Software Versions
==========================
Microsoft Excel 97 or Excel 2000, which ship as part of the Office
suite or as stand-alone products.

Patch Availability
==================
 - Microsoft Excel 2000:

http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/2000/downloaddetails/xl9p3pkg.htm
 - Microsoft Excel 97:
   http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/downloadDetails/xl8p10pkg.htm

Note Additional security patches are available at the Microsoft
Download Center

More Information
================
Please see the following references for more information related to
this issue.
 - Frequently Asked Questions: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS00-051,
   http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/fq00-051.asp
 - Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) articles, (available soon)
   Q269252 (Excel 2000) and Q269263 (Excel 97) discusses this
   issue in more detail.
 - Microsoft TechNet Security web site,
   http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/default.asp

Obtaining Support on this Issue
===============================
This is a fully supported patch. Information on contacting Microsoft
Product Support Services is available at
http://support.microsoft.com/support/contact/default.asp.

Revisions
=========
 - July 26, 2000: Bulletin Created.

- -------------------------------------------------------------------

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THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last Updated July 26, 2000
(c) 2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of use.

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