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Windows Registry Editor Utility String Concealment Weakness
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Secunia Advisory:
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SA16560
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Release Date:
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2005-08-24
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Last Update:
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2006-02-06
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Popularity:
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64,824 views
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Critical:
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Not critical
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Impact:
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Spoofing
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Where:
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Local system
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Solution Status:
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Unpatched
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| OS: | Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
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Description:
Igor Franchuk has discovered a weakness in Microsoft Windows, which can be exploited to hide certain information.
The weakness is caused due to an error in the Registry Editor Utility (regedit.exe) when handling long string names. This can be exploited to hide strings in a registry key by creating a string with a long name, which causes this string and any subsequently created strings in the key to be hidden.
Successful exploitation e.g. makes it possible for malware to hide strings in the "Run" registry key. However, these hidden strings created after the string with the overly long name will still be executed when the user logs in.
The same problem reportedly also exists for overly long registry keys.
The weakness has been confirmed in fully updated Windows XP SP2 and Windows 2000 SP4 systems. Other versions may also be affected.
NOTE: The "regedt32.exe" utility on Windows 2000 is also affected, but in a slightly different way.
NOTE: A virus is reportedly exploiting this method to hide in the registry.
Solution:
It's possible to see hidden registry strings with the "reg" command line utility.
Ensure that systems have up-to-date anti-virus and spyware detection software installed.
Provided and/or discovered by:
Igor Franchuk
Changelog:
2005-08-25: Added link to ISC and information about "reg" command line utility.
2005-08-29: Added information from Adam Boulton.
2006-02-06: Updated informaion about RegEdt32. Added information about virus utilizing this method to hide itself in the registry.
Other References:
ISC:
http://isc.sans.org/diary.php?date=2005-08-24
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About this Secunia Advisory
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Please note: The information that this Secunia Advisory is based on comes from a third party unless stated otherwise.
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