A vulnerability has been reported in Microsoft HTML Help, which can be exploited by malicious, local users to escalate their privileges.

The vulnerability is caused due to the HTML Help API not dropping privileges before invoking the help viewer. This poses a security risk if a higher privileged application (eg. an anti-virus program or personal firewall) uses the HTML Help API, since a command prompt can be opened with the privileges of the application.

Successful exploitation allows execution of arbitrary commands on the system with escalated privileges.

The vulnerability has been reported in HTML Help Control version 5.2.3735.1. Other versions may also be affected.

This vulnerability may be related to:
SA7394

Solution
Grant only trusted users access to vulnerable systems.

Provided and/or discovered by
Brett Moore, security-assessment.com.

Other references
Further details available to Secunia VIM customers

Deep Links
Links available to Secunia VIM customers