Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-037 - Important

Vulnerabilities in DNS Could Allow Spoofing (953230)

Published: | Updated:

Version: 3.1

General Information

Executive Summary

This security update resolves two privately reported vulnerabilities in the Windows Domain Name System (DNS) that could allow spoofing. These vulnerabilities exist in both the DNS client and DNS server and could allow a remote attacker to redirect network traffic intended for systems on the Internet to the attacker’s own systems.

This security update is rated Important for all supported editions of Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Server 2008. For more information, see the subsection, Affected and Non-Affected Software, in this section.

The security update addresses the vulnerabilities by using strongly random DNS transaction IDs, using random sockets for UDP queries, and updating the logic used to manage the DNS cache. 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. Microsoft recommends that customers apply the update at the earliest opportunity.

Known Issues. Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 953230 documents the currently known issues that customers may experience when they install this security update.

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

DNS Client (KB951748)DNS Server (KB951746)Maximum Security ImpactAggregate Severity RatingBulletins Replaced by this Update
Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4See row belowSpoofingImportant MS08-001,
MS08-020
See row aboveMicrosoft Windows 2000 Server Service Pack 4SpoofingImportant MS07-062
Windows XP Service Pack 2Not applicableSpoofingImportant MS06-064,
MS08-001
Windows XP Service Pack 3Not applicableSpoofingImportant None
Windows XP Professional x64 EditionNot applicableSpoofingImportant MS06-064,
MS08-001
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2Not applicableSpoofingImportant MS08-001
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1See row belowSpoofingImportant MS06-064,
MS08-001
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2See row belowSpoofingImportant MS08-001
See row aboveWindows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2SpoofingImportant MS07-062
Windows Server 2003 x64 EditionSee row belowSpoofingImportant MS06-064,
MS08-001
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2See row belowSpoofingImportant MS08-001
See row aboveWindows Server 2003 x64 Edition and Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2SpoofingImportant MS07-062
Windows Server 2003 with SP1 for Itanium-based SystemsSee row belowSpoofingImportant MS06-064,
MS08-001
Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based SystemsSee row belowSpoofingImportant MS08-001
See row aboveWindows Server 2003 with SP1 for Itanium-based Systems and Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based SystemsSpoofingImportant MS07-062
Not applicableWindows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems*SpoofingImportant None
Not applicableWindows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems*SpoofingImportant None

*Windows Server 2008 server core installation affected. For supported editions of Windows Server 2008, this update applies, with the same severity rating, whether or not Windows Server 2008 was installed using the Server Core installation option. For more information on this installation option, see Server Core. Note that the Server Core installation option does not apply to certain editions of Windows Server 2008; see Compare Server Core Installation Options.

Non-Affected Software

Operating System
Windows Vista and Windows Vista Service Pack 1
Windows Vista x64 Edition and Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 1
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Related to This Security Update

Vulnerability Information

Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers

DNS Insufficient Socket Entropy Vulnerability - CVE-2008-1447

DNS Cache Poisoning Vulnerability - CVE-2008-1454

Update Information

Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance

Security Update Deployment

Other Information

Acknowledgments

Microsoft thanks the following for working with us to help protect customers:

  • Dan Kaminsky of IOActive for reporting the DNS Insufficient Socket Entropy Vulnerability (CVE-2008-1447)

Support

  • Customers in the U.S. and Canada can receive technical support from Microsoft Product Support Services at 1-866-PCSAFETY. There is no charge for support calls that are associated with security updates.
  • 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

  • V1.0 (July 8, 2008): Bulletin published.
  • V2.0 (July 10, 2008): Bulletin revised to inform users of ZoneAlarm and Check Point Endpoint Security of an Internet connectivity issue detailed in the section, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Related to this Security Update. The revision did not change the security update files in this bulletin, but users of ZoneAlarm and Check Point Endpoint Security should read the FAQ entries for guidance.
  • V2.1 (July 23, 2008): Affected Software table revised to add MS06-064, MS07-062, and MS08-001 as bulletins replaced by this update.
  • V2.2 (July 25, 2008): Added three new known issues entries to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Related to This Security Update.
  • V2.3 (January 13, 2009): Added a new entry to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Related to This Security Update section to communicate the fix to a detection and deployment issue with Windows XP Service Pack 3. There were no changes to the binaries or packages for this update. Customers who have successfully updated their systems do not need to reinstall this update.
  • V3.0 (December 8, 2009): Updated to communicate the rerelease of the security update for the DNS client on Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (KB951748). Also corrected the bulletin replacement information for this update. Customers who have previously installed this update need to reinstall the automatically reoffered update. No other updates are affected by this rerelease.
  • V3.1 (December 9, 2009): Corrected the registry key verification and removal information in the reference table for the DNS client on Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (KB951748). This is an informational change only.