Title: Access Violation in Windows 2000 IRDA Driver Can Cause
System to Restart
Date: 21 August 2001
Software: Windows 2000
Impact: Denial of Service
Bulletin: MS01-046

Microsoft encourages customers to review the Security Bulletin at:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-046.asp.

Issue:

Microsoft Windows 2000 provides support for infrared-based
connectivity. This support is provided through protocols
developed by the Infrared Data Association (IRDA).
Because of this, they are often called IRDA devices. These
devices can be used to share files and printers with other
IRDA-device capable systems. The software which handles
IRDA devices in Windows 2000 contains an unchecked buffer
in the code which handles certain IRDA packets.

A security vulnerability results because it is possible
for a malicious user to send a specially crafted IRDA packet
to the victim's system. This could enable the attacker to conduct
a buffer overflow attack and cause an access violation
on the system, forcing a reboot. To be best of our knowledge,
it cannot be used to run malicious code on the user's system

Mitigating Factors:

• The attack would require that an attacker's machine be within
  range of the victim's IRDA device, usually within arm's length.
• The attack would require that an attacker's machine's IRDA port
  have either a direct line of sight to the victim's machine, or
  be able to transmit the IRDA packets through reflection directly
  to the victim's IRDA port.
• To the best of our knowledge, this cannot be used to run
  malicious code on the user's system.

Patch Availability:

• A patch is available to fix this vulnerability. Please read the
  Security Bulletin
  http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms01-046.asp
  for information on obtaining this patch.

Acknowledgment:

• Paul Millar ([email protected])

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