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Microsoft Security Bulletin MS09-058 - Important

Vulnerabilities in Windows Kernel Could Allow Elevation of Privilege (971486)

Published: | Updated:

Version: 1.1

General Information

Executive Summary

This security update resolves several privately reported vulnerabilities in the Windows kernel. The most severe of the vulnerabilities could allow elevation of privilege if an attacker logged on to the system and ran a specially crafted application. An attacker must have valid logon credentials and be able to log on locally to exploit any of these vulnerabilities. The vulnerabilities could not be exploited remotely or by anonymous users.

This security update is rated Important for supported editions of Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008; and Moderate for Service Pack 2 for all editions of Windows Vista 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 ensuring that the Windows kernel truncates 64-bit values properly, ensuring that the Windows kernel properly validates data within an executable, and ensuring that the Windows kernel cleans up exceptions under error conditions. 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 971486 documents the currently known issues that customers may experience when installing this security update. The article also documents recommended solutions for these issues. When currently known issues and recommended solutions pertain only to specific releases of this software, this article provides links to further articles.

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 2000 Service Pack 4Elevation of PrivilegeImportantMS07-022
Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows XP Service Pack 3Elevation of PrivilegeImportantMS08-064
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2Elevation of PrivilegeImportantMS08-064
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2Elevation of PrivilegeImportantMS08-064
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2Elevation of PrivilegeImportantMS08-064
Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based SystemsElevation of PrivilegeImportantMS08-064
Windows Vista and Windows Vista Service Pack 1Elevation of PrivilegeImportantMS08-064
Windows Vista Service Pack 2Denial of ServiceModerateMS08-064
Windows Vista x64 Edition and Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 1Elevation of PrivilegeImportantMS08-064
Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2Denial of ServiceModerateMS08-064
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems*Elevation of PrivilegeImportantMS08-064
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2*Denial of ServiceModerateMS08-064
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems*Elevation of PrivilegeImportantMS08-064
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2*Denial of ServiceModerateMS08-064
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based SystemsElevation of PrivilegeImportantMS08-064
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2Denial of ServiceModerateMS08-064

*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 7 for 32-bit Systems
Windows 7 for x64-based Systems
Windows Server 2008 R2 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

Windows Kernel Integer Underflow Vulnerability - CVE-2009-2515

Windows Kernel NULL Pointer Dereference Vulnerability - CVE-2009-2516

Windows Kernel Exception Handler Vulnerability - CVE-2009-2517

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:

  • Tavis Ormandy and Neel Mehta of Google Inc. for reporting the Windows Kernel Integer Underflow Vulnerability (CVE-2009-2515)
  • NSFocus Security Team for reporting the Windows Kernel NULL Pointer Dereference Vulnerability (CVE-2009-2516)
  • Tavis Ormandy and Neel Mehta of Google Inc. for reporting the Windows Kernel Exception Handler Vulnerability (CVE-2009-2517)

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 (October 13, 2009): Bulletin published.
  • V1.1 (December 21, 2009): Added a link to Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 971486 under Known Issues in the Executive Summary.