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Microsoft Security Bulletin MS09-018 - Critical

Vulnerabilities in Active Directory Could Allow Remote Code Execution (971055)

Published: | Updated:

Version: 1.1

General Information

Executive Summary

This security update resolves two privately reported vulnerabilities in implementations of Active Directory on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003, and Active Directory Application Mode (ADAM) when installed on Windows XP Professional and Windows Server 2003. The more severe vulnerability could allow remote code execution. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system remotely. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. 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.

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

The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting the way that the LDAP service allocates and frees memory while processing specially crafted LDAP or LDAPS requests.

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

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 SystemComponentMaximum Security ImpactAggregate Severity RatingBulletins Replaced by this Update
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Service Pack 4Active Directory 
(KB969805)
Remote Code ExecutionCriticalMS08-060
Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 and Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3Active Directory Application Mode (ADAM) 
(KB970437)
Denial of ServiceImportantMS08-035
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2Active Directory Application Mode (ADAM) 
(KB970437)
Denial of ServiceImportantMS08-035
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2Active Directory 
(KB969805)
Denial of ServiceImportantMS08-035
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2Active Directory Application Mode (ADAM) 
(KB970437)
Denial of ServiceImportantMS08-035
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2Active Directory 
(KB969805)
Denial of ServiceImportantMS08-035
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2Active Directory Application Mode (ADAM) 
(KB970437)
Denial of ServiceImportantMS08-035
Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based SystemsActive Directory 
(KB969805)
Denial of ServiceImportantMS08-035

Non-Affected Software

Operating SystemComponent
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Service Pack 4Not applicable
Windows Vista, Windows Vista Service Pack 1, and Windows Vista Service Pack 2Not applicable
Windows Vista x64 Edition, Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 1, and Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2Not applicable
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems and Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2Active Directory

Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS)
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems and Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2Active Directory

Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS)
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems and Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2Active Directory

Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Related to This Security Update

Vulnerability Information

Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers

Active Directory Invalid Free Vulnerability - CVE-2009-1138

Active Directory Memory Leak Vulnerability - CVE-2009-1139

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:

  • Joshua J. Drake of VeriSign iDefense Labs for reporting the Active Directory Invalid Free Vulnerability (CVE-2009-1138)
  • Justin Wyatt from the Beaverton School District for reporting the Active Directory Memory Leak Vulnerability (CVE-2009-1139)

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 (June 9, 2009): Bulletin published.
  • V1.1 (June 17, 2009): Listed Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Service Pack 4, all supported editions of Windows Vista, and all supported versions of Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems as non-affected software. Also, clarified which ports are used by the Global Catalog server in the Block TCP ports workaround for CVE-2009-1139. This is an informational change only.