Microsoft KB Archive/296139

= Patch Available for Windows Media Player 6.4 and 7 Privacy Issue =

Article ID: 296139

Article Last Modified on 10/26/2007

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Media Player 6.4
 * Microsoft Windows Media Player 7.0

-



This article was previously published under Q296139



SYMPTOMS
There is a patch available for a Windows Media Player privacy issue. This privacy issue may allow a malicious Web site operator to differentiate among users who visit his or her Web site without using cookies. A malicious Web site operator may be able to track users across multiple Web sites if the Web sites coordinate and capture certain data. This may enable the development of a composite profile of the user and the user's activities. If this composite profile is developed, the malicious Web site operator may be able to distinguish among visitors to the site and determine when a person subsequently returns to the site, even if the user disables cookies.

This privacy issue does not provide a way for a malicious Web site operator to learn a user's identity or e-mail address; however, two or more Web sites may be able to correlate information to build a profile of a user.



CAUSE
This issue can occur if a malicious Web site operator accesses a unique identification number that is associated with Windows Media Player.



Windows Media Player 7
To resolve this issue, upgrade to Windows Media Player 7.1 or later. To upgrade, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/winmediaplayer/wmp71/7.1/w982kme/en-us/mp71.exe

For more information about Windows Media Player, visit the following Microsoft Web site: ye

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb676148.aspx

After you upgrade to Windows Media Plar 7.1, use the following steps to prevent Web sites from potentially creating a user profile:
 * 1) Start Windows Media Player.
 * 2) On the Tools menu, click Options.
 * 3) Click the Player tab, and then click to clear the Allow Internet sites to uniquely identify your Player check box.
 * 4) Click OK.

Windows Media Player 6.4
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that you determine are at risk of attack. Evaluate the computer's physical accessibility, network and Internet connectivity, and other factors to determine the degree of risk to the computer. See the associated Microsoft Security Bulletin to help determine the degree of risk. This hotfix may receive additional testing. If the computer is sufficiently at risk, we recommend that you apply this hotfix now.

To resolve this problem immediately, download the hotfix by following the instructions later in this article or contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled, if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question. The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Download Wmsu47357.exe now

The English-language version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:   Date        Time    Version     Size     File name -  01/31/2001  11:33p                  516  Control.xml 05/03/2001 04:24p  6.4.7.1117  498,448  Dxm550.dll 05/03/2001 05:02p  6.4.7.1117  525,312  Dxmasf.dll 05/11/2001 09:28a                5,891  Eula.txt 04/20/2001 04:33p  4.1.0.3925   28,160  Laprxy.dll 04/20/2001 04:33p  4.1.0.3925   68,608  Logagent.exe 04/05/2001 04:09p  6.4.9.1116  844,048  Msdxm.ocx 04/05/2001 04:10p  6.4.7.1116  845,584  Msdxm550.ocx 05/01/2001 05:08p  7.1.0.3055  274,432  Setup_wm.exe 04/20/2001 01:14p  4.1.0.3925  251,904  Strmdll.dll 12/06/2000 12:43a  7.0.0.1958   65,592  Wminf.exe 05/08/2001 03:10p                8,636  Wmqfe.cat 04/25/2001 04:10p                2,439  Wmqfe.inf For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file. After you install the patch, use the following steps to prevent Web sites from potentially creating a user profile:
 * 1) Start Windows Media Player.
 * 2) On the View menu, click Options.
 * 3) Click the Player tab, and then click to clear Allow Internet sites to uniquely identify your Player.
 * 4) Click OK.



Windows Media Player 7
Microsoft has confirmed that this problem may cause a degree of security vulnerability in Windows Media Player 7. This issue was first corrected in Windows Media Player 7.1.

Windows Media Player 6.4
Microsoft has confirmed that this problem may cause a degree of security vulnerability in Windows Media Player 6.4.



MORE INFORMATION
For additional information about this vulnerability and other issues that this patch fixes, please see the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms01-029.asp

Keywords: kbdownload kbdownload kbfix kbgraphxlinkcritical kbprb KB296139

-

[mailto:TECHNET@MICROSOFT.COM Send feedback to Microsoft]

© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.