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The U.S. Department of Energy
Computer Incident Advisory Capability
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INFORMATION BULLETIN
Microsoft Authentication Flaw in Windows Debugger
[Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-024]
May 24, 2002 18:00 GMT Number M-083
______________________________________________________________________________
PROBLEM: A flaw exists in the authentication mechanism for the debugging
facility. The vulnerability may allow an attacker to cause a
running program to run a program of their choice.
PLATFORM: Windows NT 4.0, Windows NT 4.0 Server, Terminal Server Edition,
Windows 2000
DAMAGE: Exploitation of this vulnerability allows an attacker to run
code as the operating system itself, which may allow
escalation to administrative privileges.
SOLUTION: Apply appropriate patches as prescribed by Microsoft's security
bulletin.
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VULNERABILITY The risk is MEDIUM. This is a privilege elevation
ASSESSMENT: vulnerability. A malicious user must have the ability to
interactively log on to a system.
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LINKS:
CIAC BULLETIN: http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/m-083.shtml
ORIGINAL BULLETIN:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/
default.asp?url=/technet/security/bulletin/
MS02-024.asp
______________________________________________________________________________
[***** Start Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-024 *****]
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-024
Authentication Flaw in Windows Debugger can Lead to Elevated
Privileges (Q320206)
Originally posted: May 22, 2002
Summary
Who should read this bulletin: Administrators of Microsoft®
Windows NT® 4.0, Windows® 2000 systems.
Impact of vulnerability: Elevation of Privilege
Maximum Severity Rating: Critical
Recommendation: System Administrators should apply the patch to all systems
that allow unprivileged users to log onto them interactively.
Affected Software:
* Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
* Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Server, Terminal Server Edition
* Microsoft Windows 2000
Technical details
Technical description:
The Windows debugging facility provides a means for programs to perform
diagnostic and analytic functions on applications as they are running on the
operating system. One of these capabilities allows for a program, usually a
debugger, to connect to any running program, and to take control of it. The
program can then issue commands to the controlled program, including the ability
to start other programs. These commands would then execute in the same security
context as the controlled program.
There is a flaw in the authentication mechanism for the debugging facility such
that an unauthorized program can gain access to the debugger. A vulnerability
results because an attacker can use this to cause a running program to run a
program of her choice. Because many programs run as the operating system, this
means that an attacker can exploit this vulnerability to run code as the
operating system itself. She could take any action on the system including
deleting data, adding accounts with administrative access, or reconfiguring
the system.
A successful attack requires the ability to logon interactively to the system,
either at the console or through a terminal session. Also, an a successful
attack requires the introduction of code to exploit this vulnerability. Because
best practices recommends restricting the ability to logon interactively on
servers, this issue most directly affects client systems and terminal servers.
Mitigating factors:
* A successful attack requires the ability to logon interactively to the target
machine, either directly at the console or through a terminal session. Best
practices strongly militate against ever allowing an unprivileged user to
interactively log onto business-critical systems such as ERP servers, database
servers, domain controllers and the like. If these recommendations have been
followed, the vulnerability would principally pose a threat only to systems
like workstations and terminal servers.
* A successful attack requires that the attacker be able to load code of her
choice on the system. Restrictions on a user's ability to load and execute
arbitrary code could potentially prevent a successful attack.
Severity Rating: Internet Servers Intranet Servers Client Systems
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Windows NT 4.0 Low Moderate Critical
Windows 2000 Low Moderate Critical
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The above assessment is based on the types of systems affected by the
vulnerability, their typical deployment patterns, and the effect that exploiting
the vulnerability would have on them. The vulnerability requires interactive
logons, which are normally heavily restricted on Internet facing systems and
moderately restricted on Intranet systems. In addition, the attack requires the
introduction of malicious code to the system.
Vulnerability identifier: CAN-2002-0367
Tested Versions:
Microsoft tested Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, and Windows XP to assess whether
they are affected by these vulnerabilities. Previous versions are no longer
supported, and may or may not be affected by these vulnerabilities.
Patch availability
Download locations for this patch
* Windows NT 4.0:
http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/nts/downloads/security/q320206/default.asp
* Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition:
http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/terminalserver/downloads/security/Q320206/
default.asp
* Windows 2000:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/security/q320206/default.asp
Additional information about this patch
Installation platforms:
* Windows NT 4.0:
The Windows NT 4.0 patch can be installed on systems running Service Pack 6a
* The Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition patch can be installed on systems
running Windows NT 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 6.
* Windows 2000:
This patch can be installed on systems running Windows 2000 Service Pack 1
or Windows 2000 Service Pack 2
Inclusion in future service packs:
The fix for this issue will be included in Windows 2000 Service Pack 3.
Reboot needed: Yes
Superseded patches: None.
Verifying patch installation: Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT 4.0 Terminal
Server Edition:
* To verify that the patch has been installed on the machine, confirm that the
following registry key has been created on the machine:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Hotfix\Q320206.
* To verify the individual files, consult the file manifest in Knowledge Base
article Q320206
Windows 2000:
* To verify that the patch has been installed on the machine, confirm that the
following registry key has been created on the machine:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Updates\Windows 2000\SP4\Q320206.
* To verify the individual files, use the date/time and version information
provided in the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Updates\Windows 2000\SP4\Q320206\Filelist
Caveats:
None
Localization:
Localized versions of this patch are under development. When completed, they will
be available at the locations discussed in "Obtaining other security patches".
Obtaining other security patches:
Patches for other security issues are available from the following locations:
* Security patches are available from the Microsoft Download Center, and can be
most easily found by doing a keyword search for "security_patch".
* Patches for consumer platforms are available from the WindowsUpdate web site
* All patches available via WindowsUpdate also are available in a redistributable
form from the WindowsUpdate Corporate site.
Other information:
Support:
* Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q320206 discusses this issue and will be available
approximately 24 hours after the release of this bulletin. Knowledge Base articles
can be found on the Microsoft Online Support web site.
* Technical support is available from Microsoft Product Support Services. There is
no charge for support calls associated with security patches.
Security Resources: The Microsoft TechNet Security Web Site provides additional
information about security in Microsoft products.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in the Microsoft Knowledge Base is provided "as is" without
warranty of any kind. Microsoft disclaims all warranties, either express or implied,
including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
In no event shall Microsoft Corporation or its suppliers be liable for any damages
whatsoever including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, loss of business
profits or special damages, even if Microsoft Corporation or its suppliers have
been advised of the possibility of such damages. Some states do not allow the
exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages so
the foregoing limitation may not apply.
Revisions:
* V1.0 (May 22, 2002): Bulletin Created.
[***** End Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-024 *****]
_______________________________________________________________________________
CIAC wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Microsoft Corporation for the
information contained in this bulletin.
_______________________________________________________________________________
CIAC, the Computer Incident Advisory Center, is the computer
security incident response team for the U.S. Department of Energy
(DOE) and the emergency backup response team for the National
Institutes of Health (NIH). CIAC is located at the Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory in Livermore, California. CIAC is also a founding
member of FIRST, the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams, a
global organization established to foster cooperation and coordination
among computer security teams worldwide.
CIAC services are available to DOE, DOE contractors, and the NIH. CIAC
can be contacted at:
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E-mail: ciac@ciac.org
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PLEASE NOTE: Many users outside of the DOE, ESnet, and NIH computing
communities receive CIAC bulletins. If you are not part of these
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This document was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an
agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States
Government nor the University of California nor any of their
employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any
legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or
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