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Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS99-028)
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Patch Available for "Terminal Server Connection Request Flooding"
Vulnerability
Originally Posted: August 09, 1999
Summary
=======
Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates a vulnerability that
could pose a denial-of-service threat to Microsoft(r) Windows NT(r)
Terminal Servers. Frequently asked questions regarding this vulnerability
can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/security/bulletins/MS99-028faq.asp
Issue
=====
When a request to open a new terminal connection is received by a Terminal
Server, the server undertakes a resource-intensive series of operations to
prepare for the connection. It does this before authenticating the request.
This would allow an attacker to mount a denial of service attack by levying
a large number of bogus connection requests and consuming all memory on the
Terminal Server.
This vulnerability could be exploited remotely if connection requests are
not filtered. In extreme cases, the server could crash in the face of such
an attack; in other cases, normal processing would return when the attack
ceased. The patch works by causing the server to require authentication
before processing the connection request.
Affected Software Versions
==========================
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
Patch Availability
==================
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition:
ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/winnt/winnt-public/fixes
/usa/NT40tse/hotfixes-postSP4/Flood-fix/
NOTE: Line breaks have been added to the above URL for readability.
More Information
================
Please see the following references for more information related to this
issue.
- Microsoft Security Bulletin MS99-028: Frequently Asked Questions,
http://www.microsoft.com/security/bulletins/MS99-028faq.asp.
- Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) article Q238600,
Multiple Connection Requests Promote Denial of Service Attack,
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q238/6/00.asp.
(Note: It may take 24 hours from the original posting of this
bulletin for the KB article to be visible.)
- Microsoft Security Advisor web site,
http://www.microsoft.com/security/default.asp.
Obtaining Support on this Issue
===============================
This is a fully supported patch. Information on contacting Microsoft
Technical Support is available at
http://support.microsoft.com/support/contact/default.asp.
Acknowledgments
===============
Microsoft acknowledges the ISS X-force (http://www.iss.net) for discovering
this vulnerability and working with us to alert customers about it.
Revisions
=========
- August 09, 1999: Bulletin Created.
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FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.
(c) 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
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