CVE-2000-0885 in Network Monitor
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflows in Microsoft Network Monitor (Netmon) allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a long Browser Name in a CIFS Browse Frame, a long SNMP community name, or a long username or filename in an SMB session, aka the "Netmon Protocol Parsing" vulnerability. NOTE: It is highly likely that this candidate will be split into multiple candidates.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2024
The CVE-2000-0885 vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow issue within Microsoft Network Monitor version 3.0 and earlier, affecting the network protocol parsing capabilities of this widely used network monitoring tool. This vulnerability specifically targets the software's handling of various network protocols including CIFS, SMB, and SNMP, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by remote adversaries. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the protocol parsing routines, particularly when processing network frames containing Browser Names, SNMP community strings, or SMB session identifiers. The vulnerability's classification as a buffer overflow aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This weakness directly enables arbitrary code execution within the context of the Network Monitor process, potentially providing attackers with complete system compromise capabilities.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires attackers to craft malicious network packets containing oversized strings in specific fields of CIFS browse frames, SNMP community names, or SMB session parameters. When Network Monitor processes these malformed packets, the insufficient input validation causes buffer overflows that can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory structures including return addresses and function pointers. The attack vector operates entirely over network protocols without requiring local system access, making it particularly dangerous for network administrators who rely on Network Monitor for security monitoring and analysis. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that Network Monitor typically runs with elevated privileges on Windows systems, potentially allowing attackers to gain SYSTEM-level access to compromised machines. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where adversaries can execute malicious code through compromised network monitoring tools.
The operational impact of CVE-2000-0885 extends beyond immediate system compromise to encompass broader network security implications for organizations relying on Network Monitor for network traffic analysis. Network administrators who deploy this tool in production environments face significant risk exposure, as attackers can exploit the vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors or conduct reconnaissance activities without detection. The vulnerability's presence in a network monitoring tool creates a particularly dangerous scenario where attackers can compromise security monitoring capabilities while simultaneously executing malicious code. Organizations may experience service disruption, data exfiltration, or complete system compromise depending on the attacker's objectives and the specific environment targeted. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw makes it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to expand their network foothold through automated exploitation campaigns. Given the tool's widespread deployment in enterprise networks, the potential for cascading security incidents increases significantly, as compromised Network Monitor instances could provide attackers with insights into network topology and traffic patterns that could be leveraged for further attacks. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in network protocol handling software and the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security patches for network monitoring tools. The issue also highlights the risk of privilege escalation through buffer overflow vulnerabilities in network monitoring applications, where the monitoring tool's elevated permissions can be exploited to gain unauthorized system access. Organizations should implement network segmentation, firewall rules, and access controls to limit exposure to such vulnerabilities while ensuring timely patch deployment for all network monitoring infrastructure components.