Update Available for Cross-Frame Security Issue

ID: Q168485

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 3.0, 3.01, 3.02, 4.0, 4.01 for Windows 95
Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 3.0, 3.01, 3.02, 4.0, 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0
Microsoft Windows 98
Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01 for Macintosh
Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01 for Windows 3.1
Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01 for Windows NT 3.51

SUMMARY

Microsoft has released an update that addresses a potential security issue with the implementation of cross-frame security in Microsoft Internet Explorer. Additional information about this issue is available from the following Microsoft Web sites:

Updates are available for the following products:

Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 (x86 and Alpha)
Microsoft Windows 98
Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows 3.1 and Windows NT 3.51
Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Macintosh

This issue may enable a malicious Web site administrator to read files from a remote computer by circumventing the safeguards that Microsoft has implemented with regard to scripts interacting with other instances of Internet Explorer. Note that Microsoft has not received reports of adverse effects due to this issue.

MORE INFORMATION

Update Information by Product:

NOTE: If you are using Internet Explorer 3.x or 4.0, you must install Internet Explorer 4.01 in order to apply this update. You can install Internet Explorer 4.01 with Service Pack 1 from the following Microsoft Web site:

   http://www.microsoft.com/ie/download

Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 and 4.01 with Service Pack 1 for Windows 95:

   Update File Name:  ie4jsn.exe
   Availability:      http://www.microsoft.com/ie/security

   Updated File Name    Size (bytes)   Date       Version
   ------------------------------------------------------------
   Mshtml.dll           2,413,840      9-02-98    4.72.3509.100

Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 and 4.01 with Service Pack 1 for Windows NT 4.0 x86:

   Update File Name:  ie4jsn.exe
   Availability:      http://www.microsoft.com/ie/security

   Updated File Name    Size (bytes)   Date       Version
   ------------------------------------------------------------
   Mshtml.dll           2,413,328      9-02-98    4.72.3509.100

Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 and 4.01 with Service Pack 1 for Windows NT 4.0 Alpha:

   Availability:      http://www.microsoft.com/ie/security

   Updated File Name    Size (bytes)   Date       Version
   ------------------------------------------------------------
   Mshtml.dll           3,937,552      9-02-98    4.72.3509.200

Windows 98:

   Update File Name:  ie4jsn.exe
   Availability:      Microsoft Windows Update

   Updated File Name    Size (bytes)   Date       Version
   ------------------------------------------------------------
   Mshtml.dll           2,413,840      9-02-98    4.72.3509.100

Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows 3.1 and Windows NT 3.51:

   Update File Name:  2758.exe
   Availability:      http://www.microsoft.com/ie/security

   Updated File Name    Size (bytes)   Date       Version
   ------------------------------------------------------------
   Mshtml16.dll         3,084,160      9-02-98    4.01.2509.200
   Urlmon16.dll           351,280      9-02-98    4.01.2509.201

Additional query words: 3.00 4.00 95 98

Keywords          : kbenv kbweb msiew95 msient msiew31 msiemac win98 
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: November 5, 1998