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Microsoft Security Bulletin MS10-024 - Important

Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange and Windows SMTP Service Could Allow Denial of Service (981832)

Published: | Updated:

Version: 2.0

General Information

Executive Summary

This security update resolves one publicly disclosed vulnerability and one privately reported vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange and Windows SMTP Service. The more severe of these vulnerabilities could allow denial of service if an attacker sent a specially crafted DNS response to a computer running the SMTP service. By default, the SMTP component is not installed on Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition, or Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.

This security update is rated Important for all supported editions of Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003; 32-bit and x64-based editions of Windows Server 2008; Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems; and Microsoft Exchange Server 2003. This security update is rated Moderate for Microsoft Exchange Server 2000. For more information, see the subsection, Affected and Non-Affected Software, in this section.

The security update addresses the vulnerabilities by correcting the manner in which SMTP parses MX records and the manner in which SMTP allocates memory for interpreting SMTP command responses. For more information about the vulnerabilities, 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 at the earliest opportunity 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. Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 981832 documents the currently known issues that customers may experience when installing this security update. The article also documents recommended solutions for these issues.

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 SystemMaximum Security ImpactAggregate Severity RatingBulletins Replaced by this Update
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
(KB976323)
Denial of ServiceImportantNone
Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows XP Service Pack 3
(KB976323)
Denial of ServiceImportantNone
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2
(KB976323)
Denial of ServiceImportantNone
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2
(KB976323)
Denial of ServiceImportantNone
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2
(KB976323)
Denial of ServiceImportantNone
Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems
(KB976323)
Denial of ServiceImportantNone
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems and Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2**
(KB976323)
Denial of ServiceImportantNone
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems and Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2**
(KB976323)
Denial of ServiceImportantNone
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems**
(KB976323)
Denial of ServiceImportantNone
Microsoft Server Software
Microsoft Exchange Server 2000 Service Pack 3
(KB976703)
Information DisclosureModerateNone
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2
(KB976702)
Denial of ServiceImportantNone
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 for x64-based Systems
(KB981407)
NoneNone[1]None
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 2 for x64-based Systems
(KB981383)
NoneNone[1]None
Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 for x64-based Systems
(KB981401)
NoneNone[1]None

**Server Core installation not affected. The vulnerabilities addressed by this update do not affect supported editions of Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 as indicated, when installed using the Server Core installation option. For more information on this installation option, see the MSDN articles, Server Core and Server Core for Windows Server 2008 R2. Note that the Server Core installation option does not apply to certain editions of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2; see Compare Server Core Installation Options.

[1]Severity ratings do not apply to this update because the vulnerabilities discussed in this bulletin do not affect this software. However, Microsoft recommends that customers of this software apply this update, which includes a defense-in-depth measure that adds additional source port entropy to DNS transactions initiated by the SMTP service. For more information, see Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Related to This Security Update.

Non-Affected Software

Operating System
Windows Vista, Windows Vista Service Pack 1, and Windows Vista Service Pack 2
Windows Vista x64 Edition, Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 1, and Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems
Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems
Windows 7 for x64-based Systems
Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Related to This Security Update

Vulnerability Information

Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers

SMTP Server MX Record Vulnerability - CVE-2010-0024

SMTP Memory Allocation Vulnerability - CVE-2010-0025

Update Information

Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance

Security Update Deployment

Other Information

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

  • 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.
  • 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 (April 13, 2010): Bulletin published.
  • V1.1 (April 14, 2010): Added an entry to the Update FAQ to clarify the Microsoft Exchange servicing model. Also corrected the Configuration Manager 2007 detection value for Microsoft Exchange Server 2000 Service Pack 3 and the installation switches for Microsoft Exchange Server 2000 Service Pack 3 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2.
  • V1.2 (April 15, 2010): Added an entry in the Update FAQ to announce a detection change to the update for Microsoft Exchange Server 2000 Service Pack 3. This is a detection change only. There were no changes to the security update files in this bulletin. Customers who have already installed the update successfully do not need to reinstall.
  • V2.0 (July 13, 2010): Rereleased bulletin to reoffer the updates for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 to address the known issue listed in KB 976323.