MS04-023: Vulnerability in HTML Help could allow code execution

Microsoft has released security bulletin MS04-023. The security bulletin contains all the relevant information about the security update, including file manifest information and deployment options. To view the security bulletin, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

For additional information about the latest service pack for Windows XP, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Known issues

For security reasons, the 840135 security update prevents unsupported use of compiled HTML Help files. After you apply 840315, only files that have the .chm file name extension can be used as compiled HTML Help files. Programs that use other file name extensions for compiled HTML Help files will no longer display content by using HTML Help.

To work around this issue, the program vendor should take the following actions:

• Update their program to support or to use compiled HTML Help files that are named with the .chm file name extension.
• Update any existing compiled HTML Help files to have the .chm file name extension.