INFORMATION BULLETIN
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INFORMATION BULLETIN
| PROBLEM: | The Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) service allows computers to discover and use network-based devices. |
| PLATFORM: | Windows 98 Windows 98SE Windows ME Windows XP |
| DAMAGE: | Invalid UPnP request could result with a variety of effects from slow performance to system failures. |
| SOLUTION: | Install available patch. |
| VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT: |
The risk is LOW. Standard firewall practices could be used to protect networks from Internet-based attacks. UPnP is not installed by default. |
[***** Start Microsoft Security Bulletin MS01-054 *****] Invalid Universal Plug and Play Request can Disrupt System Operation Originally posted: November 01, 2001 Updated: November 13, 2001 Summary Who should read this bulletin: Customers using Microsoft® Windows® ME or XP, or who have installed the Windows XP Internet Connection Sharing client on Windows 98 or 98SE. Impact of vulnerability: Denial of service Maximum Severity Rating: Low Recommendation: Windows XP customers should apply the Critical Update listed below in Patch Availability, as it contains fixes for a number of issues, including this one. Customers using Windows 98, 98SE or ME should apply the patch if the Universal Plug and Play service is installed and running. Affected Software: Microsoft Windows 98 Microsoft Windows 98SE Microsoft Windows ME Microsoft Windows XP Note: Windows 98 and 98SE are only affected if the Internet Connection Sharing that ships with Windows XP has been installed on the machine. Technical details Technical description: On November 08, 2001 Microsoft discovered that the Windows ME patch failed to properly register the upnp.dll. On November 13, 2001, Microsoft released a corrected version of the Windows ME patch. Microsoft recommends that customers who installed the original Windows ME patch download and install the new one. Customers using other systems do not need to take any additional action, as only the Windows ME patch contained the error. The Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) service allows computers to discover and use network-based devices. Windows ME and XP include native UPnP services; Windows 98 and 98SE do not include a native UPnP service, but one can be installed via the Internet Connection Sharing client that ships with Windows XP. A vulnerability results because the UPnP service does not correctly handle certain types of invalid UPnP requests. On Windows 98, 98SE, and ME systems, receiving such a request could cause a variety of effects ranging from slow performance to system failure. On Windows XP, the effect is less serious as the flaw consists of a memory leak. Each time a Windows XP system received such a request, a small amount of system memory would become unavailable; if repeated many times, it could deplete system resources to the point where performance slowed or stopped altogether. Mitigating factors: General: Standard firewalling practices (specifically, blocking ports 1900 and 5000) could be used to protect corporate networks from Internet-based attacks. Windows 98 and 98SE: There is no native UPnP support for these systems. Windows 98 and 98SE systems would only be affected if the Internet Connection Sharing Client from Windows XP had been installed on the system. Windows ME: Windows ME provides native UPnP support, but it is neither installed nor running by default. (However, some OEMs do configure pre-built systems with the service installed and running). Windows XP: Internet Connection Firewall, which runs by default, would impede an attacker's ability to locate and attack the system. Severity Rating: Internet Servers Intranet Servers Client Systems Windows 98 None None Low Windows 98SE None None Low Windows ME None None Low Windows XP None None Low 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 only affects client operating systems on which the UPnP service is running, and poses a denial of service vulnerability at worst. Vulnerability identifier: CAN-2001-0721 Tested Versions: Microsoft tested Windows ME, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 and Windows XP, and the UPnP service that can be installed on Windows 98 and 98SE, 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 Microsoft 98 and 98SE: http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/Release.asp?ReleaseID=33592 Microsoft ME: http://download.microsoft.com/download/winme/Update/21388/WinMe/EN-US/311311USAM.EXE Microsoft XP: This issue is eliminated via the update titled "Windows XP Update Package, October 25, 2001", at http://www.microsoft.com/Windowsupdate Additional information about this patch Installation platforms: The patch for Windows 98 and 98SE can be installed on any Windows 98 or 98SE system on which the Windows XP Internet Connection Sharing client has been installed. The patch for Windows ME can be installed on systems running Windows ME Gold. The patch for Windows XP can be installed on systems running Windows XP Gold. Inclusion in future service packs: No future service packs are planned for Windows 98, 98SE or ME. The fix for this issue will be included in Windows XP Service Pack 1. Reboot needed: Yes Superseded patches: None. Verifying patch installation: Windows 98 and 98SE: To verify that the patch has been installed on the machine, select Start, then Run, then run the QFECheck utility. If the patch is installed, "Windows 98 Q309521 Update" will be listed among the installed patches. To verify the individual files, use the file manifest provided in Knowledge Base article Q309521. Windows ME: To verify that the patch has been installed on the machine, select Start, then Run, then run the QFECheck utility. If the patch is installed, "Windows Millennium Edition Q311311 Update" will be listed among the installed patches. To verify the individual files, use the file manifest provided in Knowledge Base article Q311311. Windows XP: 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 XP\SP1\q309521. 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 XP\SP1\q309521\Filelist. Caveats: None Localization: Localized versions of the patches for Windows 98, 98SE and ME are under development, and will be available via WindowsUpdate shortly. German and Japanese versions are available for download today, as discussed in Knowledge Base article Q311311. Localized versions of the Windows XP patch are available from WindowsUpdate. 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: Acknowledgments Microsoft thanks 'Ken' from FTU for reporting this issue to us and working with us to protect customers. Support: Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q311311, and Q309521 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 (November 01, 2001): Bulletin Created. V2.0 (November 08,2001): Bulletin updated to reflect removal of WindowsME patch after a problem was found with it. V2.5 (November 13, 2001): Bulletin updated to reflect new patch for WindowsME. [***** End Microsoft Security Bulletin MS01-054 *****]
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