Vulnerability Note VU#378160

Microsoft Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) contains a buffer overflow

Overview

A buffer overflow in the WINS service may allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial-of-service condition.

I. Description

The Microsoft WINS service maps IP addresses to NETBIOS computer names.The WINS protocol contains a vulnerability that may allow a remote attacker to compromise a WINS server. Insufficient validation on the name parameter within incoming WINS packets allows a buffer overflow to occur. If a remote attacker supplies a specially crafted packet to a vulnerable WINS server, that attacker may be able to exploit the buffer overflow to execute arbitrary code.

According to Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-045 the following Microsoft products are vulnerable:

	Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Service Pack 6a
	Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 6
	Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Service Pack 3 and Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Service Pack 4
	Microsoft Windows Server 2003
	Microsoft Windows Server 2003 64-Bit Edition

For more detailed information please refer to Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-045.

II. Impact

A remote attacker may be able to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges or cause a denial-of-service condition.

III. Solution

Apply Patch

Microsoft has released Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-045 to address this issue. Users are encouraged to review this bulletin and apply the patches it refers to.

Consider Workarounds in MS04-045

Removing the WINS service if it is not needed
Blocking TCP and UDP port 42
Using IPsec as a communication protocol between WINS servers

For more detailed information please see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 890710 and Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-045.

Systems Affected

Vendor	Status	Date Notified	Date Updated
Microsoft Corporation	Unknown	16-Dec-2004

References

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS04-045.mspx
http://secunia.com/advisories/13466/

Credit

Thanks to Microsoft Security for reporting this vulnerability.

Microsoft credits Kostya Kortchinsky of CERT RENATER with reporting this vulnerability.

This document was written by Jeff Gennari.

Other Information

Date Public:	2004-12-14
Date First Published:	2004-12-16
Date Last Updated:	2004-12-16
CERT Advisory:
CVE-ID(s):	CAN-2004-0567
NVD-ID(s):	CAN-2004-0567
US-CERT Technical Alerts:
Metric:	23.73
Document Revision:	39

If you have feedback, comments, or additional information about this vulnerability, please send us email.

Get Adobe Reader