• Article

Security Bulletin

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS99-055 - Important

Patch Available for "Malformed Resource Enumeration Argument" Vulnerability

Published: December 09, 1999

Version: 1.0

Originally Posted: December 09, 1999

Summary

Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates a security vulnerability in Microsoft® Windows NT®. The vulnerability could cause a Windows NT machine to stop responding to requests for services.

Frequently asked questions regarding this vulnerability can be found at https://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/fq99-055.mspx.

Issue

When a specific type of malformed argument is supplied to a resource enumeration request, the Windows NT Service Control Manager can fail. The primary effect of the failure is to cause named pipes to fail, which prevents many other system services from operating. The failure would not cause the machine to crash, and as a result it might not be obvious to the operator that the machine was no longer in service. An affected computer can be put back into service by rebooting.

The resource enumeration request involved in the vulnerability must be made via IPC, so customers can protect against remote attacks by blocking NetBios requests at the firewall. Networks that allow anonymous logons can prevent attacks by disabling the ability for null sessions to submit enumeration requests; this can be done using the RestictAnonymous registry key. Both of these measures are good security practices in any case.

Affected Software Versions

  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

Vulnerability Identifier: CVE-1999-0980

Patch Availability

Windows NT Workstation, Windows NT Server, and Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition:

Windows NT Server, Terminal Server Edition:

More Information

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

  • Microsoft Security Bulletin MS99-055: Frequently Asked Questions, https://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/fq99-055.mspx.

  • Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) article 246045, Malformed Resource Enumeration Arguments May Cause Named Pipes and Other System Services to Fail, https:.
    (Note: It may take 24 hours from the original posting of this bulletin for this KB article to be visible.)

  • Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) article 143474, Restricting Information Available to Anonymous Users, </https:>https:.
    (Note: It may take 24 hours from the original posting of this bulletin for this 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 .Rain.Forest.Puppy for bringing this issue to our attention.

Revisions

  • December 09, 1999: Bulletin Created.

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