ISSalert: Internet Security Systems Security Advisory: Buffer Overflow in Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 Network Monitor

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Internet Security Systems Security Advisory
November 1, 2000

Buffer Overflow in Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 Network
Monitor

Synopsis:
Internet Security Systems (ISS) X-Force has discovered a buffer overflow
vulnerability in Microsoft's Network Monitor utility. The vulnerability
allows code to be executed on the remote computer with the privilege
levels of the current user. Administrative privileges are required to
run Network Monitor.

Affected Versions:

• -Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Server, Terminal Server Edition, and
  Enterprise Edition.
• -Windows 2000 Server, Advanced Server, and Datacenter Server
• -Microsoft Systems Management Server versions 1.2 and 2.0

Description:
Network Monitor is a network administration tool installed as an option
with Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000. Network Monitor allows
administrators to monitor network traffic. This vulnerability affects
both basic and full versions of Network Monitor. The basic version is
shipped with Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 servers and allows an
administrator to gather data sent directly to his or her computer. The
full version of Network Monitor ships with Systems Management Server
(SMS) and puts the network card into promiscuous mode and can gather
data sent over an entire network segment.

The vulnerability is caused by a remotely exploitable buffer overflow
condition in one of Network Monitor's protocol parsers. A protocol
parser is a dynamic-link library (.dll) that identifies and analyzes
protocols that have been used to send data over the network. Information
about these protocols appears when captured data is displayed in Network
Monitor's Frame Viewer window.

Each protocol that Network Monitor supports has a corresponding parser.
When Network Monitor captures HTTP traffic, the HTTP parser interprets
the data for display. Network Monitor will crash or exit when malformed
data is captured and parsed. This buffer overflow allows a remote
attacker to gain privileged access and execute arbitrary code on any
computer running Network Monitor that displays this captured data.

Recommendations:
Microsoft recommends that customers apply the following patches:

Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Server and Windows NT 4.0 Server, Enterprise
Edition:
http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/Release.asp?ReleaseID=25487

Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, Advanced Server and Datacenter Server:
http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/Release.asp?ReleaseID=25485

Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.2:
http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/Release.asp?ReleaseID=25505

Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0:
http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/Release.asp?ReleaseID=25514

For more information on this vulnerability, please refer to the
Microsoft Security Bulletin at:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS00-083.asp

Additional Information:
The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project has assigned the
name CAN-2000-0817 to this issue. This is a candidate for inclusion in
the CVE list (http://cve.mitre.org), which standardizes names for
security problems.

The ISS SAFEsuite assessment software, Internet Scanner, will be updated
to detect this vulnerability in an upcoming X-Press Update.

Credits:
This vulnerability was discovered and researched by Justine Bone of the
ISS X-Force. Internet Security Systems would like to thank Microsoft for
their response and handling of this vulnerability.

About Internet Security Systems (ISS)
Internet Security Systems (ISS) (NASDAQ: ISSX) is the leading global
provider of security management solutions for the Internet. By combining
best of breed products, security management services, aggressive
research and development, and comprehensive educational and consulting
services, ISS is the trusted security advisor for thousands of
organizations around the world looking to protect their mission critical
information and networks.

Copyright (c) 2000 Internet Security Systems, Inc.

Permission is hereby granted for the redistribution of this Alert
electronically. It is not to be edited in any way without express
consent of the X-Force. If you wish to reprint the whole or any part of
this Alert in any other medium excluding electronic medium, please
e-mail [email protected] for permission.

Disclaimer
The information within this paper may change without notice. Use of this
information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There
are NO warranties with regard to this information. In no event shall the
author be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of or in
connection with the use or spread of this information. Any use of this
information is at the user's own risk.

X-Force PGP Key available at: http://xforce.iss.net/sensitive.php as
well as on MIT's PGP key server and PGP.com's key server.

Please send suggestions, updates, and comments to: X-Force
[email protected] mailto:[email protected] of Internet Security Systems,
Inc.

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