• Article

Security Bulletin

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS99-049 - Critical

Patch Available for "File Access URL" Vulnerability

Published: November 12, 1999

Version: 1.0

Originally Posted: November 12, 1999

Summary

Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows 98. The vulnerability could allow a malicious web site or e-mail message to cause the Windows machine to crash, or to run arbitrary code.

Frequently asked questions regarding this vulnerability can be found at https://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletins/fq99-049.mspx.

Issue

There is a buffer overflow in the Windows 95 and Windows 98 networking software that processes file name strings. If the networking software were provided with a very long random string as input, it could crash the machine. If provided with a specially-malformed argument, it could be used to run arbitrary code on the machine via a classic buffer overrun attack.

The vulnerability could be exploited remotely in cases where a file:// URL or a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) string on a remote web site included a long file name or where a long file name was included in an e-mail message.

Affected Software Versions

  • The buffer overrun is present in the networking software in all versions of Windows 95 and Windows 98.

Vulnerability Identifier: CVE-2000-0330

Patch Availability

More Information

Please see the following references for more information related to this issue.

  • Microsoft Security Bulletin MS99-049: Frequently Asked Questions, https://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletins/fq99-049.mspx.

  • Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) article 245729, Windows 95 and 98 File Access URL Update, </https:>https:.
    (Note:   It may take 24 hours from the original posting of this bulletin for the KB article to be visible.)

  • Microsoft Security web site, </https:>https:.

Obtaining Support on this Issue

This is a fully supported patch. Information on contacting Microsoft Technical Support is available at </https:>https:.

Acknowledgments

Microsoft acknowledges UNYUN, the Shadow Penguin Security Research Group of Japan for bringing this issue to our attention.

Revisions

  • November 12, 1999: Bulletin Created.

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