CVE-1999-0288 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The WINS server in Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 before SP4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (process termination) via invalid UDP frames to port 137 (NETBIOS Name Service), as demonstrated via a flood of random packets.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-1999-0288 represents a critical denial of service weakness in Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 WINS server implementations prior to Service Pack 4. This flaw resides in the network name resolution infrastructure that relies on NETBIOS Name Service operating on UDP port 137. The WINS server functions as a Windows Internet Name Service that maintains a database of computer names and their corresponding IP addresses within a network, enabling efficient name resolution for legacy applications that depend on NETBIOS protocols. The vulnerability specifically targets the server's handling of incoming UDP packets on port 137, where the system fails to properly validate incoming data structures, leading to process termination when malformed packets are received.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the injection of malformed UDP frames containing invalid data structures into the NETBIOS Name Service port. Attackers can execute a flood of random packets that exploit the lack of input validation in the WINS server's packet processing logic, causing the service to crash and terminate its processes. This behavior stems from inadequate error handling mechanisms within the Windows NT 4.0 WINS implementation, where the system does not properly sanitize or reject malformed packets before attempting to process them. The vulnerability operates at the transport layer protocol level, specifically targeting the UDP communication channel that WINS servers use to handle name registration and resolution requests from client systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise network availability and stability for organizations relying on Windows NT 4.0 infrastructure. When exploited successfully, the denial of service condition can affect multiple network services that depend on name resolution, as WINS servers are integral to network communication in legacy environments. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that have not implemented Service Pack 4 or later updates, leaving their Windows NT 4.0 servers exposed to this attack vector. Network administrators may experience significant downtime as the WINS service must be manually restarted, potentially disrupting critical business operations that depend on name resolution services.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes the weakness of insufficient input validation, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. The flaw represents a classic buffer overflow or input validation failure that occurs when systems do not adequately validate incoming network data before processing. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Microsoft Security Bulletin MS99-021, which provides the necessary patches to address the WINS server vulnerability. Network segmentation and access control measures can provide temporary protection by limiting direct access to port 137 from untrusted networks. Additionally, implementing rate limiting and packet filtering rules on firewalls can help reduce the effectiveness of flood-based attacks targeting this specific vulnerability. The remediation process requires careful consideration of legacy system compatibility and network dependencies, as WINS services may be critical for older applications that cannot easily migrate to modern DNS-based name resolution mechanisms.