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Microsoft Windows Server Service RPC Vulnerability Original release date: October 23, 2008
Last revised: October 29, 2008
Source: US-CERT
Systems Affected Microsoft Windows 2000
Microsoft Windows XP
Microsoft Windows Server 2003
Microsoft Windows Vista
Microsoft Windows Server 2008
Overview
A vulnerability in the way the Microsoft Windows server service handles RPC requests could allow an unauthenticated,
Microsoft Office 2007 Key, remote attacker to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges.
I. Description
Microsoft has released Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-067 to address a buffer oveflow vulnerability in the Windows Server service. The vulnerability is caused by a flaw in the way the Server service handles Remote Procedure Call (RPC) requests. For systems running Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003,
Cheap Windows 7 Enterprise, a remote,
Office 2007 Enterprise, unauthenticated attacker could exploit this vulnerability. For systems running Windows Vista and Server 2008, a remote attacker would most likely need to authenticate.
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-067 rates this vulnerability as "Critical" for Windows 2000, XP,
Office Professional Plus 2007, and Server 2003. The bulletin also notes "…limited, targeted attacks attempting to exploit the vulnerability."
This vulnerability has been assigned CVE-2008-4250. Further information is available in a Security Vulnerability & Research blog entry and US-CERT Vulnerability Note VU#827267.
II. Impact
A remote,
Microsoft Office 2010 Product Key, unauthenticated attacker could execute arbitrary code or cause a vulnerable system to crash. Since the Server service runs with SYSTEM privileges, an attacker could take complete control of a vulnerable system.
III. Solution Apply update
Microsoft has provided updates for this vulnerability in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-067. Microsoft also provides security updates through the Microsoft Update web site and Automatic Updates. System administrators should consider using an automated update distribution system such as Windows Server Update Services (WSUS).
Disable Server and Computer Browser services
Disable the Server and Computer Browser services on Windows systems that do not require those services. A typical Windows client that is not sharing files or printers is unlikely to need either the Server or Computer Browser services. As a best security practice, disable all unnecessary services.
Restrict access to server service
Restrict access to the server service (TCP ports 139 and 445). As a best security practice, only allow access to necessary network services.
Filter affected RPC identifier
The host firewalls in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 can selectively filter RPC Universally Unique Identifiers (UUID). See Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-067 for instructions to filter RPC requests with the UUID equal to 4b324fc8-1670-01d3-1278-5a47bf6ee188.
IV. References US-CERT Vulnerability Note VU#827267 - < Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-067 - < Microsoft Update - <https://update.microsoft.com/> Windows Update: Automatic Update < Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) Home - < CVE-2008-4250 - < More detail about MS08-067, the out-of-band netapi32.dll security update - <
Feedback can be directed to US-CERT.
Produced 2008 by US-CERT, a government organization. Terms of use
Revision History
October 23, 2008: Initial release
October 29, 2008: Fixed WSUS reference