Vulnerability Note VU#908276

Microsoft Winsock buffer overflow

Original Release date: 08 Aug 2006 | Last revised: 08 Aug 2006

Overview

A buffer overflow vulnerability in Microsoft Winsock may allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on an affected system.

Description

Winsock (Windows Socket 2) allows network applications to relay data across a network regardless of the network protocol being used. Microsoft's Winsock contains a buffer overflow vulnerability that can allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code and gain control of the affected system. Exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the remote attacker can convince the user to open a specially crafted file or website.

Microsoft's bulletin states that the following Windows operating systems are affected by this vulnerability:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
  • Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Service Pack 1
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based Systems and Service Pack 1
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition

Impact

A remote attacker who can successfully convince a user to open a specially crafted file or website may be able to execute arbitrary code and gain control of the affected system.

Solution

Apply an update

Microsoft has released updates in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-041 to address this issue.

Workaround

Microsoft lists the following workaround for this vulnerability.

    Modify the Autodial DLL

    Modifying the Autodial DLL in the Windows registry will prevent specially crafted files and websites from invoking the affected API.

    Please see the Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-041 for further details and cautions regarding use of the Registry Editor.
    1. Click Start, click Run, and type regedit32, click OK
    2. Locate the following key within the Registry Editor: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock2\Parameters
    3. Double click the REG_SZ value AutoDialDLL
    4. Set the value to kernel32.dll
    5. Close the Registry Editor and reboot the system

* Note that this workaround does NOT fix the underlying vulnerability but will help block known methods of attack.

Systems Affected (Learn More)

VendorStatusDate NotifiedDate Updated
Microsoft CorporationAffected-08 Aug 2006
If you are a vendor and your product is affected, let us know.

CVSS Metrics (Learn More)

Group Score Vector
Base N/A N/A
Temporal N/A N/A
Environmental N/A N/A

References

Credit

Thanks to Microsoft Security for reporting this vulnerability in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-041. Microsoft, in turn, thanks Peter Winter Smith of NGS Software for reporting the vulnerability to them.

This document was written by Katie Washok.

Other Information

  • CVE IDs: CVE-2006-3440
  • Date Public: 08 Aug 2006
  • Date First Published: 08 Aug 2006
  • Date Last Updated: 08 Aug 2006
  • Severity Metric: 12.83
  • Document Revision: 24

Feedback

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