Zero-Day Advisory

Fortinet Discovers Microsoft Windows Journal DoS Vulnerability

Summary

Fortinet's FortiGuard Labs has discovered a DoS vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Journal.
Windows Journal is a notetaking application, developed by Microsoft. It's included in Windows XP Tablet PC Edition as well as Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10. It allows users to create and organize handwritten notes and drawings and save them in JNT file, or export them in TIFF file. It also allows users to simply use an ordinary computer mouse to compose a handwritten note, as well as a graphics Tablet or a Tablet PC.
A DoS vulnerability has been discovered in Windows Journal. The vulnerability is caused by an error while the vulnerable software attempts to open a specially crafted jnt file. It can lead to the vulnerable software crash.

Solutions

FortiGuard Labs released the following FortiGate IPS signature which covers this specific vulnerability:

MS.Windows.Journal.DoS
Released Sep 08, 2015
Users should apply the solution provided by Microsoft.

References

• https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/ms15-098 https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/dn903755.aspx
• CVE-2015-2516

Acknowledgement

This vulnerability was discovered by Kai Lu of Fortinet's FortiGuard Labs.

IPS Subscription

Fortinet customers who subscribe to Fortinet's intrusion prevention (IPS) service should be protected against this vulnerability with the appropriate configuration parameters in place. Fortinet's IPS service is one component of FortiGuard Subscription Services, which also offer comprehensive solutions such as antivirus, Web content filtering and antispam capabilities. These services enable protection against threats on both application and network layers. FortiGuard Services are continuously updated by FortiGuard Labs, which enables Fortinet to deliver a combination of multi-layered security intelligence and true zero-day protection from new and emerging threats. These updates are delivered to all FortiGate, FortiMail and FortiClient products. Fortinet strictly follows responsible disclosure guidelines to ensure optimum protection during a threat's lifecycle.