Security Bulletin

Release date: August 12, 2007 version 1

Summary
Motive recently learned of a security vulnerability in Service Activation Manager version 5.1 and Self Service Manager version 5.1 and earlier. The vulnerability could allow an attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability to take control of the affected system.

Solution:

Patches, which correct this problem, have been delivered to, and installed by, all of Motive’s corporate customers, including broadband service providers. These patches should have already been downloaded to users’ machines.
Remove Interface from Registry
Warning: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Motive cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
To remove the affected interface, open the Registry Editor and remove the following key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D256B2D9-9C58-445A-8C38-C3AAA84EF137}

Workaround
Workaround refers to a setting or configuration change that does not correct the underlying vulnerability but would help block known attack vectors before you apply the update. Motive has tested the following workarounds and states in the discussion whether a workaround reduces functionality:

Configure Internet Explorer to prompt before running ActiveX Controls or disable ActiveX Controls in the Internet and Local intranet security zone You can help protect against this vulnerability by changing your Internet Explorer settings to prompt before running ActiveX controls. To do this, follow these steps:
1. In Internet Explorer, click Internet Options on the Tools menu.
2. Click the Security tab.
3. Click Internet, and then click Custom Level.
4. Under Settings, in the ActiveX controls and plug-ins section, under Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins, click Prompt or Disable, and then click OK.
5. Click Local intranet, and then click Custom Level.
6. Under Settings, in the ActiveX controls and plug-ins section, under Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins, click Prompt or Disable, and then click OK.
7. Click OK two times to return to Internet Explorer.
Impact of Workaround: There are side effects to prompting before running ActiveX controls. Many Web sites that are on the Internet or on an intranet use ActiveX to provide additional functionality. For example, an online e-commerce site or banking site may use ActiveX controls to provide menus, ordering forms, or even account statements. Prompting before running ActiveX controls is a global setting that affects all Internet and intranet sites. You will be prompted frequently when you enable this workaround. For each prompt, if you feel you trust the site that you are visiting, click Yes to run ActiveX controls. If you do not want to be prompted for all these sites, use the steps outlined in "Add sites that you trust to the Internet Explorer Trusted sites zone”.

Add sites that you trust to the Internet Explorer Trusted sites zone.
After you set Internet Explorer to require a prompt before it runs ActiveX controls and Active Scripting in the Internet zone and in the Local intranet zone, you can add sites that you trust to the Internet Explorer Trusted sites zone. This will allow you to continue to use trusted Web sites exactly as you do today, while helping to protect you from this attack on untrusted sites. We recommend that you add only sites that you trust to the Trusted sites zone.
To do this, follow these steps:
1. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, click Internet Options, and then click the Security tab.
2. In the Select a Web content zone to specify its current security settings box, click Trusted Sites, and then click Sites.
3. If you want to add sites that do not require an encrypted channel, click to clear the Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone check box.
4. In the Add this Web site to the zone box, type the URL of a site that you trust, and then click Add.
5. Repeat these steps for each site that you want to add to the zone.
6. Click OK two times to accept the changes and return to Internet Explorer.
Note: Add any sites that you trust not to take malicious action on your system.
Set Internet and Local intranet security zone settings to “High” to prompt before running ActiveX Controls and Active Scripting in these zones

You can help protect against this vulnerability by changing your settings for the Internet security zone to prompt before running ActiveX controls. You can do this by setting your browser security to High.

To raise the browsing security level in Internet Explorer, follow these steps:
1. On the Internet Explorer Tools menu, click Internet Options.
2. In the Internet Options dialog box, click the Security tab, and then click the Internet icon.
3. Under Security level for this zone, move the slider to High. This sets the security level for all Web sites you visit to High.
Note: If no slider is visible, click Default Level, and then move the slider to High.

Note: Setting the level to High may cause some Web sites to work incorrectly. If you have difficulty using a Web site after you change this setting, and you are sure the site is safe to use, you can add that site to your list of trusted sites. This will allow the site to work correctly even with the security setting set to High.

Impact of Workaround: There are side effects to prompting before running ActiveX controls and Active Scripting. Many Web sites that are on the Internet or on an intranet use ActiveX or Active Scripting to provide additional functionality. For example, an online e-commerce site or banking site may use ActiveX controls to provide menus, ordering forms, or even account statements. Prompting before running ActiveX controls or Active Scripting is a global setting that affects all Internet and intranet sites. You will be prompted frequently when you enable this workaround. For each prompt, if you feel you trust the site that you are visiting, click Yes to run ActiveX controls or Active Scripting. If you do not want to be prompted for all these sites, use the steps outlined in "Add sites that you trust to the Internet Explorer Trusted sites zone”.
Set Internet Explorer Kill Bit
Warning: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Motive cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To set the kill bit for ActiveUtils, paste the following text in a text editor such as Notepad. Then, save the file by using the .reg file name extension.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ActiveX Compatibility\{ D256B2D9-9C58-445A-8C38-C3AAA84EF137 }] "Compatibility Flags"=dword:00000400
You can apply this .reg file to individual systems by double-clicking it. You can also apply it across domains by using Group Policy. For more information about Group Policy, visit the following Microsoft Web sites:
Note: You must restart Internet Explorer for your changes to take effect.
Impact of Workaround: The vulnerable ActiveX control will no longer instantiate in Internet Explorer.

Details
The affected control was part of versions 4 and 5 of some of Motive’s products, and is not included in version 6 of the Motive product family. Patches, which correct this problem, have been delivered to, and installed by, all of Motive’s corporate customers, including service providers. These patches should have already been downloaded to user’s machines earlier in the year. However, to ensure all users’ machines are safe, Motive has worked with Microsoft to include a “kill bit” in the August 2007 Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer. You can download the update from Microsoft here.

Service Activation Manager is used by Broadband Service Providers to activate new subscribers. Self Service Manager is used by Broadband Service Providers to enable subscribers to manager their service and support issues themselves using automated support portals and other support applications. At the time of releasing this bulletin, Motive is not aware of any active attacks using this vulnerability, however we are closely monitoring the situation, and are continuing to do everything we can, in order to eliminate this risk.

Motive would like to acknowledge Microsoft for including the killbit(s) in the August 2007 Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer. Customers should primarily look to the Solution section above to resolve this issue. We would like to thank Microsoft for their involvement in helping protect our customers.

Because each customer’s use of Motive’s products differs significantly, you will need to contact your Broadband Service Provider if you have further questions.