CVE-1999-1358 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
When an administrator in Windows NT or Windows 2000 changes a user policy, the policy is not properly updated if the local ntconfig.pol is not writable by the user, which could allow local users to bypass restrictions that would otherwise be enforced by the policy, possibly by changing the policy file to be read-only.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2024
This vulnerability exists in the Windows ntconfig.pol policy file handling mechanism within Windows nt and windows 2000 operating systems. The flaw represents a privilege escalation issue that allows local users to bypass security restrictions imposed by administrative policies. When administrators modify user policies through the group policy interface, the system fails to properly validate whether the local ntconfig.pol file is writable by the current user account. This design weakness creates a scenario where malicious users can manipulate the policy file permissions to gain unauthorized access to restricted resources or functionalities that should be blocked by the established security policies.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access control validation during policy update operations. The ntconfig.pol file serves as the local policy store that contains security settings and restrictions applied to user accounts. When the system attempts to update this file during policy changes, it does not properly verify that the user has appropriate write permissions to the local policy file. This failure allows local users to change the file attributes to read-only status or otherwise manipulate the file access control lists, thereby preventing the system from properly enforcing the updated security policies. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the local ntconfig.pol file becomes non-writable by the user account performing the policy change operation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for system security and access control enforcement. Local users who can manipulate the ntconfig.pol file can effectively bypass security restrictions that were intended to protect against unauthorized access to system resources, network shares, or specific functionalities. This could enable attackers to gain access to sensitive system components, escalate privileges beyond normal user limitations, or circumvent security controls that were specifically implemented to prevent malicious activities. The vulnerability essentially allows a user to maintain persistent access to restricted resources even after administrators have attempted to revoke those permissions through policy updates.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-276, which describes improper file permissions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through system configuration modifications. The weakness demonstrates a classic case of insufficient privilege checking in file system operations and represents a failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement. Organizations running windows nt or windows 2000 systems are particularly vulnerable to this issue, as these legacy operating systems lack the enhanced security controls found in modern windows versions. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper file system permission management and the need for robust access control validation mechanisms.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability involve several administrative and configuration approaches. System administrators should ensure that the ntconfig.pol file maintains appropriate write permissions for the local administrators group while restricting access for standard users. Regular auditing of file permissions and access control lists should be implemented to detect unauthorized modifications. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing more robust security policies that include monitoring for changes to critical system files and establishing automated alerts for suspicious permission modifications. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to modern windows operating systems that have improved security controls and proper privilege validation mechanisms in place. Regular security updates and patch management procedures should be maintained to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the system infrastructure.