TippingPoint Zero Day Initiative
 

Microsoft Windows WINS Service Heap Overflow Vulnerability

ZDI-09-053: August 11th, 2009

CVE ID

Affected Vendors

Affected Products

TippingPoint™ IPS Customer Protection

TippingPoint IPS customers are protected against this vulnerability by Digital Vaccine protection filter ID 8387. For further product information on the TippingPoint IPS:

Vulnerability Details

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Microsoft Windows. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability.

The specific flaw exists within the WINS.exe process which provides name resolution services for NetBIOS networks. While parsing a push request the WINS service copies packet data to a static heap buffer while within a controlled loop. By providing a specially crafted request an attacker can overflow this heap buffer leading to arbitrary code execution under the SYSTEM context.

Vendor Response

Microsoft has issued an update to correct this vulnerability. More details can be found at:

Disclosure Timeline

    2009-02-24 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
    2009-08-11 - Coordinated public release of advisory

Credit

This vulnerability was discovered by:
    Anonymous