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                       The U.S. Department of Energy
                   Computer Incident Advisory Capability
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                             INFORMATION BULLETIN

           Microsoft Unchecked Buffer in MDAC Function Vulnerability 
                     [Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-033]

August 20, 2003 22:00 GMT                                         Number N-136
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PROBLEM:       Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) provides the underlying 
               functionality for a number of database operations, such as 
               connecting to remote databases and returning data to a client. 
               For example, when a client system on a network tries to see a 
               list of computers that are running SQL Server and that reside 
               on the network, it sends a broadcast request to all the devices 
               that are on the network. Due to a flaw in a specific MDAC 
               component, an attacker could respond to this request with a 
               specially crafted packet that could cause a buffer overflow. 
SOFTWARE:      Microsoft Data Access Components 2.5 
               Microsoft Data Access Components 2.6 
               Microsoft Data Access Components 2.7 
			   
               MDAC is included by default in Windows 2000, Windows XP, and 
               Windows ME. Windows 2003 Server is not vulnerable. 
DAMAGE:        Run code of the attacker's choice. 
SOLUTION:      Apply patch as stated in Microsoft's bulletin. 
______________________________________________________________________________
VULNERABILITY  The risk is HIGH. MDAC is commonly included by default in 
ASSESSMENT:    many versions of Windows. 
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LINKS: 
 CIAC BULLETIN:      http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/n-136.shtml 
 ORIGINAL BULLETIN:                                                           
                     http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?
                       url=/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-033.asp 
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[***** Start Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-033 *****]

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-033   

Unchecked Buffer in MDAC Function Could Enable System 
Compromise (823718)
Originally posted: August 20, 2003

Summary
Who should read this bulletin: Customers using Microsoft® Windows® 

Impact of vulnerability: Run code of the attacker’s choice 

Maximum Severity Rating: Important 

Recommendation: Users should apply the security patch to affected systems. 

Affected Software: 

* Microsoft Data Access Components 2.5 
* Microsoft Data Access Components 2.6 
* Microsoft Data Access Components 2.7 

Not Affected Software: 

* Microsoft Data Access Components 2.8 

An End User version of the bulletin is available at:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/security_bulletins/ms03-033.asp. 

Technical details

Technical description: 

Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) is a collection of components that 
are used to provide database connectivity on Windows platforms. MDAC is a 
ubiquitous technology, and it is likely to be present on most Windows systems: 

* By default, MDAC is included by default as part of Microsoft Windows XP, 
  Windows 2000, Windows Millennium Edition, and Windows Server 2003. (It is 
  worth noting, though, that the version that is installed by Windows Server 
  2003 does not have this vulnerability). 

* MDAC is available for download as a stand-alone technology. 

* MDAC is either included in or installed by a number of other products and 
  technologies. For example, MDAC is included in the Microsoft Windows NT® 4.0 
  Option Pack and in Microsoft SQL Server 2000. Additionally, some MDAC 
  components are present as part of Microsoft Internet Explorer even when MDAC 
  itself is not installed. 

MDAC provides the underlying functionality for a number of database operations,
such as connecting to remote databases and returning data to a client. When a 
client system on a network tries to see a list of computers that are running 
SQL Server and that reside on the network, it sends a broadcast request to 
all the devices that are on the network. Due to a flaw in a specific MDAC 
component, an attacker could respond to this request with a specially crafted 
packet that could cause a buffer overflow. 

An attacker who successfully exploited this flaw could gain the same level of 
privileges over the system as the application that initiated the broadcast 
request. The actions an attacker could carry out would be dependent on the 
permissions which the application using MDAC ran under. If the application 
ran with limited privileges, an attacker would be limited accordingly; 
however, if the application ran under the local system context, the attacker 
would have the same level of permissions. This could include creating, 
modifying, or deleting data on the system, or reconfiguring the system. This 
could also include reformatting the hard disk or running programs of the 
attacker’s choice. 

This bulletin supercedes the patch discussed in MS02-040. Customers should 
install this patch as it contains both the fix for the vulnerability 
discussed in bulletin MS02-040 and the patch discussed in this bulletin. 

Mitigating factors: 

* For an attack to be successful an attacker would need to simulate a SQL 
  server on the same subnet as the target system. 

* Code executed on the client system would only run under the privileges 
  of the client application that made the broadcast request. 

* MDAC version 2.8 (which is the version included with Windows Server 2003) 
  does not contain the flaw that is addressed by this bulletin. 

Severity Rating: 

MDAC 2.5 	Important 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
MDAC 2.6 	Important 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
MDAC 2.7 	Important 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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. 

Vulnerability identifier: CAN-2003-0353 

Tested Versions:
Microsoft tested Microsoft Data Access Components 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, and 2.8 
to assess whether they are affected by this vulnerability. Previous 
versions are no longer supported, and may or may not be affected by 
these vulnerabilities.

Patch availability

Download locations for this patch 

* MDAC: 
  All affected versions 

Additional information about this patch

Installation platforms: 
This patch can be installed on systems running: 

* MDAC 2.5 Service Pack 2 
* MDAC 2.5 Service Pack 3 
* MDAC 2.6 Service Pack 2 
* MDAC 2.7 
* MDAC 2.7 Service Pack 1 

Inclusion in future service packs:
The fix for this issue will be included in MDAC 2.5 Service Pack 5 and in 
MDAC 2.7 Service Pack 2. 

Reboot needed: Yes 

Patch can be uninstalled: No 

Superseded patches: This patch supersedes the patch discussed in MS02-040. 

Verifying patch installation: 

* Microsoft Knowledge Base article 823718 provides a file manifest that 
  can be used to verify the patch installation. 

Caveats:
None 

Localization:
Localized versions of this patch are available at the locations discussed 
in “Patch Availability”. 

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 

Other information: 

Acknowledgments

Microsoft thanks Microsoft thanks Aaron C. Newman of Application Security, 
Inc. for reporting this issue to us and for working with us to help protect 
customers.

Support: 

* Microsoft Knowledge Base article 823718 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 (August 20, 2003): Bulletin Created. 


[***** End Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-033 *****]
_______________________________________________________________________________

CIAC wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Microsoft for the 
information contained in this bulletin.
_______________________________________________________________________________


CIAC, the Computer Incident Advisory Capability, is the computer
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