Microsoft Security Bulletin MS09-064 - Critical Vulnerability in License Logging Server Could Allow Remote Code Execution (974783)

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS09-064 - Critical
Vulnerability in License Logging Server Could Allow Remote Code Execution (974783)
Published: November 10, 2009

Version: 1.0
General Information
Executive Summary

This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 2000. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if an attacker sent a specially crafted network message to a computer running the License Logging Server. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of the system. Firewall best practices and standard default firewall configurations can help protect networks from attacks that originate outside the enterprise perimeter.

This security update is rated Critical for Microsoft Windows 2000. For more information, see the subsection, Affected and Non-Affected Software, in this section.

The security update addresses the vulnerability by changing the way the License Logging service validates a specific field inside the RPC packet. For more information about the vulnerability, see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) subsection for the specific vulnerability entry under the next section, Vulnerability Information.

Recommendation. The majority of customers have automatic updating enabled and will not need to take any action because this security update will be downloaded and installed automatically. Customers who have not enabled automatic updating need to check for updates and install this update manually. For information about specific configuration options in automatic updating, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 294871.

For administrators and enterprise installations, or end users who want to install this security update manually, Microsoft recommends that customers apply the update immediately using update management software, or by checking for updates using the Microsoft Update service.

See also the section, Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance, later in this bulletin.

Known Issues. None
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Affected and Non-Affected Software

The following software have been tested to determine which versions or editions are affected. Other versions or editions are either past their support life cycle or are not affected. To determine the support life cycle for your software version or edition, visit Microsoft Support Lifecycle.

Affected Software
Operating System Maximum Security Impact Aggregate Severity Rating Bulletins Replaced by this Update

Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Service Pack 4

Remote Code Execution

Critical

None

Non-Affected Software
Operating System

Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Service Pack 4

Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows XP Service Pack 3

Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2

Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2

Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2

Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems

Windows Vista, Windows Vista Service Pack 1, and Windows Vista Service Pack 2

Windows Vista x64 Edition, Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 1, Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2

Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems and Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2

Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems and Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2

Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems and Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2

Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems

Windows 7 for x64-based Systems

Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems

Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Related to This Security Update

What is the License Logging service?
The License Logging service is a tool that was originally designed to help customers manage licenses for the Microsoft server products that are licensed in the Server Client Access License (CAL) model.

Is the License Logging Server installed by default on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server?
Yes, by default, Microsoft Windows 2000 Server is installed with the License Logging service, and it is enabled by default.

How do I know if I use the License Logging service on my server?
The License Logging service is not available on Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional. By default, the License Logging service is installed and running on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server. You can determine whether the License Logging service is installed by performing the following procedure.

Click Start, click Programs, click Administrative Tools, and then click Services.

Verify that the License Logging service is present.

Where are the file information details?
Refer to the reference tables in the Security Update Deployment section for the location of the file information details.

I am using an older release of the software discussed in this security bulletin. What should I do?
The affected software listed in this bulletin have been tested to determine which releases are affected. Other releases are past their support life cycle. For more information about the product lifecycle, visit the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Web site.

It should be a priority for customers who have older releases of the software to migrate to supported releases to prevent potential exposure to vulnerabilities. To determine the support lifecycle for your software release, see Select a Product for Lifecycle Information. For more information about service packs for these software releases, see Lifecycle Supported Service Packs.

Customers who require custom support for older software must contact their Microsoft account team representative, their Technical Account Manager, or the appropriate Microsoft partner representative for custom support options. Customers without an Alliance, Premier, or Authorized Contract can contact their local Microsoft sales office. For contact information, visit the Microsoft Worldwide Information Web site, select the country in the Contact Information list, and then click Go to see a list of telephone numbers. When you call, ask to speak with the local Premier Support sales manager. For more information, see the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ.
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Vulnerability Information

Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers

The following severity ratings assume the potential maximum impact of the vulnerability. For information regarding the likelihood, within 30 days of this security bulletin's release, of the exploitability of the vulnerability in relation to its severity rating and security impact, please see the Exploitability Index in the November bulletin summary. For more information, see Microsoft Exploitability Index.
Vulnerability Severity Rating and Maximum Security Impact by Affected Software
Affected Software License Logging Server Heap Overflow Vulnerability - CVE-2009-2523 Aggregate Severity Rating

Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4

Critical
Remote Code Execution

Critical
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License Logging Server Heap Overflow Vulnerability - CVE-2009-2523

An unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the Microsoft License Logging Server software handles specially crafted RPC packets. An attempt to exploit the vulnerability would not require authentication, allowing an attacker to exploit the vulnerability by sending a specially crafted network message to a computer running the License Logging service. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of the system.

To view this vulnerability as a standard entry in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures list, see CVE-2009-2523.

Mitigating Factors for License Logging Server Heap Overflow Vulnerability - CVE-2009-2523

Mitigation refers to a setting, common configuration, or general best-practice, existing in a default state, that could reduce the severity of exploitation of a vulnerability. The following mitigating factors may be helpful in your situation:
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Firewall best practices and standard default firewall configurations can help protect networks from attacks that originate outside the enterprise perimeter. Best practices recommend that systems that are connected to the Internet have a minimal number of ports exposed.
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Workarounds for License Logging Server Heap Overflow Vulnerability - CVE-2009-2523

Workaround refers to a setting or configuration change that does not correct the underlying vulnerability but would help block known attack vectors before you apply the update. Microsoft has tested the following workarounds and states in the discussion whether a workaround reduces functionality:
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Disable the License Logging service

Disabling the License Logging service will help protect your system from remote attempts to exploit this vulnerability.

To do this, perform the following steps:

Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

Double-click Administrative Tools.

Double-click Services.

Double-click License Logging Service.

In the Startup type list, click Disabled.

Click Stop, and then click OK.

Impact of workaround. If the License Logging service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on the License Logging service may log an error message in the system event log. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 316631
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Block TCP ports 139 and 445 at the firewall

These ports are used to initiate a connection with the affected component. Blocking TCP ports 139 and 445 at the firewall will help protect systems that are behind that firewall from attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Microsoft recommends that you block all unsolicited inbound communication from the Internet to help prevent attacks that may use other ports. For more information about ports, see the TechNet article, TCP and UDP Port Assignments.

Impact of workaround. Several Windows services use the affected ports. Blocking connectivity to the ports may cause various applications or services to not function. Some of the applications or services that could be impacted are listed below:
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Applications that use SMB (CIFS)
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Applications that use mailslots or named pipes (RPC over SMB)
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Server (File and Print Sharing)
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Group Policy
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Net Logon
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Distributed File System (DFS)
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Terminal Server Licensing
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Print Spooler
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Computer Browser
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Remote Procedure Call Locator
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Fax Service
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Indexing Service
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Performance Logs and Alerts
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Systems Management Server
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License Logging Service
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FAQ for License Logging Server Heap Overflow Vulnerability - CVE-2009-2523

What is the scope of the vulnerability?
This is a remote code execution vulnerability. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.

What causes the vulnerability?
The License Logging service fails to validate the length of a string passed to it through an RPC call. This results in a buffer overflow on the heap.

What might an attacker use the vulnerability to do?
An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system.

How could an attacker exploit the vulnerability?
An attacker could try to exploit the vulnerability by creating a specially crafted RPC message and sending the message to an affected system.

What systems are primarily at risk from the vulnerability?
Microsoft Windows 2000 servers running the License Logging service are affected by this vulnerability. As such, domain controllers are at a greater risk for this vulnerability than workstations or other servers.

What does the update do?
The security update addresses the vulnerabilities by correcting the validation of RPC messages to the License Logging service.

What is RPC?
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) is a protocol that a program can use to request a service from a program located on another computer in a network. RPC helps with interoperability because the program using RPC does not have to understand the network protocols that are supporting communication. In RPC, the requesting program is the client and the service-providing program is the server.

When this security bulletin was issued, had this vulnerability been publicly disclosed?
No. Microsoft received information about this vulnerability through responsible disclosure.

When this security bulletin was issued, had Microsoft received any reports that this vulnerability was being exploited?
No. Microsoft had not received any information to indicate that this vulnerability had been publicly used to attack customers when this security bulletin was originally issued.

Other Information
Acknowledgments

Microsoft thanks the following for working with us to help protect customers:
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Cody Pierce of TippingPoint DVLabs for reporting the License Logging Server Heap Overflow Vulnerability (CVE-2009-2523)
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Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP)

To improve security protections for customers, Microsoft provides vulnerability information to major security software providers in advance of each monthly security update release. Security software providers can then use this vulnerability information to provide updated protections to customers via their security software or devices, such as antivirus, network-based intrusion detection systems, or host-based intrusion prevention systems. To determine whether active protections are available from security software providers, please visit the active protections Web sites provided by program partners, listed in Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP) Partners.

Support
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Customers in the U.S. and Canada can receive technical support from Security Support or 1-866-PCSAFETY. There is no charge for support calls that are associated with security updates. For more information about available support options, see Microsoft Help and Support.
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International customers can receive support from their local Microsoft subsidiaries. There is no charge for support that is associated with security updates. For more information about how to contact Microsoft for support issues, visit the International Support Web site.

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
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V1.0 (November 10, 2009): Bulletin published.