Microsoft Security Bulletin MS00-021
Patch Available for "Malformed TCP/IP Print Request" Vulnerability
Originally Posted: March 30, 2000
Summary
Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates a security vulnerability in the TCP/IP Printing Services for Microsoft® Windows NT® 4.0 and Windows® 2000. If this service is installed, the vulnerability could allow a malicious user to disrupt printing services.
Frequently asked questions regarding this vulnerability can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/fq00-021.mspx.
General Information
Issue
TCP/IP Printing Services is an RFC 1179-compliant printing service designed for environments that use the Berkeley Remote Printing protocols, also known as LPD and LPR. (In Windows 2000, TCP/IP Printing Services are also known as Print Services for Unix). A specially-malformed print request could cause TCPSVC.EXE to crash, which would not only prevent the server from providing printing services, but also would stop several other services, most importantly DHCP. Any affected services could be put back into service by restarting them; it would not be necessary to reboot the machine.
It is important to note that TCP/IP Printing Services is different from the native Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 printing services. TCP/IP Printing Services is not installed by default, and the vulnerability at hand here would not allow a malicious user to disrupt printing via the native Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 printing services.
Affected Software Versions
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Workstation
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Server
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Server, Enterprise Edition
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Server, Terminal Server Edition
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Vulnerability Identifier: CVE-2000-0232
Patch Availability
- Windows 2000 Professional, Server, and Advanced Server:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=67CAAAAF-6316-4B01-8965-D520DA5E48AB&displaylang=en - Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Server, and Server, Enterprise Edition:
- Windows NT 4.0 Server, Terminal Server Edition:
Note: Additional security patches are available at the Microsoft Download Center
More Information
Please see the following references for more information related to this issue.
- Microsoft Security Bulletin MS00-021: Frequently Asked Questions
- Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) article 257870
- RFC 1179, Line Printer Daemon Protocol.
- Microsoft TechNet Security web site.
Obtaining Support on this Issue
This is a fully supported patch. Information on contacting Microsoft Technical Support is available at http://support.microsoft.com/contactussupport/?ws=support
Acknowledgments
Microsoft thanks Underground Security Systems Research for reporting this issue to us and working with us to protect customers.
Revisions
- March 30, 2000: Bulletin Created.
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