Security Bulletin

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS00-030 - Important

Patch Available for "Malformed Extension Data in URL" Vulnerability

Published: May 11, 2000

Version: 1.0

Originally Posted: May 11, 2000

Summary

Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates a security vulnerability in Microsoft® Internet Information Server. The vulnerability could be used to slow the performance of an affected server, or temporarily stop it altogether.

Frequently asked questions regarding this vulnerability and the patch can be found at https://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/fq00-030.mspx

General Information

Issue

In compliance with RFC 2396, the algorithm in IIS that processes URLs has flexibility built in to allow it to process any arbitrary sequence of file extensions or subresource identifiers (referred to in the RFC as path_segments). By providing an URL that contains specially-malformed file extension information, a malicious user could misuse this flexibility in order to arbitrarily increase the work factor associated with parsing the URL. This could consume much or all of the CPU availability on the server and prevent useful work from being done.

The vulnerability does not provide any capability to cause the server to fail, or to add, change or delete data on it. Likewise, it provides no capability to usurp administrative control of the web server. The slowdown would only last until the URL had been processed, at which point service would return to normal.

Affected Software Versions

  • Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Information Server 5.0

Vulnerability Identifier: CVE-2000-0408

Patch Availability

More Information

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

Obtaining Support on this Issue

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

Acknowledgments

Microsoft thanks Underground Security Systems Research - for reporting this vulnerability to us and working with us to protect customers.

Revisions

  • May 11, 2000: Bulletin Created.

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.

Built at 2014-04-18T13:49:36Z-07:00 </https:>