Title: NNTP Service in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000
Contains Memory Leak
Date: 14 August 2001
Software: Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000
Impact: Denial of service
Bulletin: MS01-043

Microsoft encourages customers to review the Security Bulletin at:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-043.asp.

Issue:

The NNTP (Network News Transport Protocol) service in Windows NT 4.0
and Windows 2000 contains a memory leak in a routine that processes
news postings. Each time such a posting is processed that contains a
particular construction, the memory leak causes a small amount of
memory to no longer be available for use. If an attacker sent a large
number of posts, the server memory could be depleted to the point at
which normal service would be disrupted. An affected server could be
restored to normal service by rebooting.

Mitigating Factors:

• Windows NT 4.0 does not contain a native NNTP service. NNTP
  is only available on the system if the Windows NT 4.0 Option
  Pack has been installed.
• The default configuration of NNTP is not affected by the
  vulnerability, as no newsgroups are configured by default.
• The vulnerability would not enable an attacker to usurp any
  administrative control or compromise data on the machine.

Patch Availability:

• A patch is available to fix this vulnerability. Please read the
  Security Bulletin
  http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms01-043.asp
  for information on obtaining this patch.

Acknowledgment:

• Aiden ORawe

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