Security Bulletin
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS99-046 - Critical
Published: October 22, 1999 | Updated: December 23, 1999
Version: 1.2
Originally Posted: October 22, 1999
Updated: December 23, 1999
Summary
Microsoft has released a patch that significantly improves the randomness of the TCP initial sequence numbers (ISNs) generated by the TCP/IP stack in Microsoft® Windows NT® 4.0. Improving the randomness of ISNs eliminates a class of potential attacks against Windows NT 4.0 systems.
Frequently asked questions regarding this vulnerability can be found at https://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/fq99-046.mspx.
Issue
The ISNs used in TCP/IP sessions should be as random as possible in order to prevent attacks such as IP address spoofing and session hijacking. This patch improves the randomness of the Windows NT 4.0 TCP/IP ISN generation, providing 15 bits of entropy.
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
Vulnerability Identifier: CVE-2000-0328
Patch Availability
Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Windows NT 4.0 Server, and Windows NT 4.0 Server, Enterprise Edition:
Service Pack 4 and 5 (Intel and Alpha versions):
https://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID;=D38CE01E-0189-43F1-B7C8-1C2063766CC2Service Pack 6 (Intel and Alpha versions):
https://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID;=DAF70BE0-0725-4998-9A59-AD1BA99AFD8EWindows NT 4.0 Server, Terminal Server Edition:
https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?FamilyId=88FE59E2-0B28-416E-8799-762D1471A2FD&displaylang;=en
More Information
Please see the following references for more information related to this issue.
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS99-046: Frequently Asked Questions, https://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/fq99-046.mspx.
Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) article 243835, How to Prevent Predictable TCP/IP Initial Sequence Numbers, https:.
(Note: It may take 24 hours from the original posting of this bulletin for this KB article to be visible.)CERT Advisory CA-95.01, Topic: IP Spoofing Attacks and Hijacked Terminal Connections, https://www.cert.org/advisories/CA-95.01.IP.spoofing.attacks.and.hijacked.terminal.connections.html.
Protocol Specification, Transmission Control Protocol, </https:>https:
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 National Bank of Kuwait for bringing this issue to our attention.
Revisions
- October 22, 1999: Bulletin Created.
- November 12, 1999: Bulletin changed to announce temporary unavailability of patch.
- December 23, 1999: Bulletin changed to announce reavailability of patch.
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