Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS99-055)

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Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS99-055)
--------------------------------------

Patch Available for "Malformed Resource Enumeration Argument" Vulnerability
Originally Posted: December 09, 1999

Summary
=======
Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates a security vulnerability in
Microsoft(r) Windows NT(r). The vulnerability could cause a Windows NT
machine to stop responding to requests for services.

Frequently asked questions regarding this vulnerability can be found at
http://www.microsoft.com/security/bulletins/MS99-055faq.asp.

Issue
=====
When a specific type of malformed argument is supplied to a resource
enumeration request, the Windows NT Service Control Manager can fail. The
primary effect of the failure is to cause named pipes to fail, which
prevents many other system services from operating. The failure would not
cause the machine to crash, and as a result it might not be obvious to the
operator that the machine was no longer in service. An affected computer can
be put back into service by rebooting.

The resource enumeration request involved in the vulnerability must be made
via IPC, so customers can protect against remote attacks by blocking NetBios
requests at the firewall. Networks that allow anonymous logons can prevent
attacks by disabling the ability for null sessions to submit enumeration
requests; this can be done using the RestictAnonymous registry key. Both of
these measures are good security practices in any case.

Affected Software Versions
==========================
 - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
 - Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
 - Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition
 - Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

Patch Availability
==================
Windows NT Workstation, Windows NT Server, and Windows NT Server, Enterprise
Edition:
 - x86:
   http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/Release.asp?ReleaseID=16382
 - alpha:
   http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/Release.asp?ReleaseID=16383

Windows NT Server, Terminal Server Edition:
 - To be released shortly

   NOTE: This and other patches are available from the Microsoft
   Download Center (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.asp?
   Search=Keyword&Value='security_patch'&OpSysID=1)

More Information
================
Please see the following references for more information related to this
issue.
 - Microsoft Security Bulletin MS99-055: Frequently Asked Questions,
   http://www.microsoft.com/security/bulletins/MS99-055faq.asp.
 - Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) article Q246045,
   Malformed Resource Enumeration Arguments May Cause
   Named Pipes and Other System Services to Fail,
   http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q246/0/45.asp.
   (Note: It may take 24 hours from the original posting of this
   bulletin for this KB article to be visible.)
 - Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) article Q143474,
   Restricting Information Available to Anonymous Users,
   http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q143/4/74.asp.
 - Microsoft Security Advisor web site,
   http://www.microsoft.com/security/default.asp.

Obtaining Support on this Issue
===============================
This is a fully supported patch. Information on contacting Microsoft
Technical
Support is available at
http://support.microsoft.com/support/contact/default.asp.

Acknowledgments
===============
Microsoft acknowledges .Rain.Forest.Puppy for bringing this issue to our
attention.

Revisions
=========
 - December 09, 1999: Bulletin Created.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

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