Question

security of CHM files

Asked by: iuhh

I saw many CHM e-books floating around the internet lately, and I worry that these might become a new form of worm carrier... so -

Just wondering, does Windows have any security measures for the CHM help files?  I know that some scripts can execute from inside a CHM file (they are essentially HTML after all), but what security level was it ran on?  Does the anti-virus softwares checks the content of CHM files (since it is compressed)?  

I guess many people would benifit from these information, many thanks.

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Asked On
2003-10-18 at 08:54:14ID20770791
Tags

chm

,

files

,

security

Topic

Miscellaneous Security

Participating Experts
3
Points
125
Comments
4

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Answers

 

by: sunray_2003Posted on 2003-10-18 at 15:49:50ID: 9577446

check these

http://www.wanadoo.com.lb/virus/default.asp?language=2&virus=4

you need to check for viruses and their removal instructions

http://www.bullguard.com/antivirus/vit_breetnee_b.aspx

Sunray

 

by: iuhhPosted on 2003-10-19 at 10:22:28ID: 9579455

Thanks for the information.  Since a script can run inside a chm, I think just about all script worms/virus can be embedded into one of those files.  I am actually more interested in the security restrictions that was placed around those scripts, e.g which security zone (Web Content Zone) are they running in?  how to place more restriction around chm files?  

I figure that chm was possibly not considered as a potentially harmful file like exe so won't be blocked by email clients defaut, is that corrent?

Damage can possibly be minimized if the infected chm were viewed in a restricted account, but on many occations it will be the developers who needs those chm files for references, and developers tend to use privilaged accounts unfortunately.  Is there a good security solution for such a problem?  Does the current antivirus softwares (Norton, McAfee, Panda... or whatever) check inside a chm file?

Many thanks again.

 

by: Franklin_DeMattoPosted on 2003-10-23 at 22:53:53ID: 9612284

You wrote: Does the current antivirus softwares (Norton, McAfee, Panda... or whatever) check inside a chm file?

I believe that they can be set to check all file extensions.  However, be aware that they will only detect a virus if they already have its signature.  So they will miss any custom trojans.

Methods exists to get CHM files to execute arbitrary commands and code.

 

by: ajenkinsPosted on 2003-11-11 at 09:19:42ID: 9723753

In short, properly configuring IE's security zones, disabling active scripting and adding CHM to ignored extensions should help protect you from malicious scripts in Compiled/Compressed HTML files.  
Also making sure critical updates are installed; see technet bulletins ms00-037 and ms00-046
Viruses that use CHM scripts do exist (BleBla, VBS/BritneyPic, HTML_The_Fly) and decent AV software will detect them
I believe Sophos scans .chm files by default..  They are compressed with LZX ie MS Compress, same as cabinet files.

http://xforce.iss.net/xforce/xfdb/10254
http://xforce.iss.net/xforce/xfdb/5567
http://www.securiteam.com/windowsntfocus/IE_vulnerability_allows_execution_of_arbitrary_programs___chm_files_and_temporary_file_folder_.html

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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