CVE-2000-0980 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
NMPI (Name Management Protocol on IPX) listener in Microsoft NWLink does not properly filter packets from a broadcast address, which allows remote attackers to cause a broadcast storm and flood the network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0980 resides within the Network Management Protocol Implementation (NMPI) listener component of Microsoft NWLink, which operates on the Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX) protocol stack. This flaw represents a significant network security weakness that affects Microsoft Windows operating systems supporting IPX networking. The vulnerability specifically impacts the handling of broadcast packets within the NWLink protocol implementation, creating a scenario where malicious actors can exploit improper packet filtering mechanisms to disrupt network operations.
The technical flaw manifests in the NMPI listener's failure to properly validate and filter incoming packets originating from broadcast addresses within the IPX network protocol. When the NWLink service receives broadcast packets, it does not adequately distinguish between legitimate broadcast traffic and potentially malicious broadcast packets, leading to a condition where any broadcast address can trigger the protocol's processing mechanisms without proper authorization checks. This improper filtering behavior stems from the protocol implementation's lack of robust input validation and access control measures for broadcast packet handling.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple network disruption to create a potential denial of service scenario that can severely degrade network performance and availability. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to generate broadcast storms by sending specially crafted packets to broadcast addresses, causing the affected network segment to experience excessive traffic load. The resulting broadcast storm floods network resources and can lead to complete network saturation, preventing legitimate network communications from functioning properly. This type of attack directly violates the network availability principle of the CIA triad and can affect critical business operations depending on network connectivity.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-225, which addresses improper handling of broadcast packets in network protocols, and represents a classic example of insufficient input validation in network services. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1498 technique for network denial of service attacks, specifically targeting the network effects of service availability compromise. The attack vector requires only network access to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed remotely without requiring local system access or elevated privileges. Network administrators must understand that this vulnerability affects the fundamental transport layer operations of IPX-based networks, potentially impacting legacy systems that still rely on NetWare networking protocols.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2000-0980 should focus on network segmentation and access control implementation to limit broadcast traffic exposure. Organizations should implement proper network monitoring to detect unusual broadcast traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The recommended approach includes disabling IPX networking where it is not essential, implementing network access control lists to filter broadcast traffic, and applying network-wide broadcast storm prevention mechanisms. Microsoft released patches for affected Windows versions that addressed the packet filtering logic in NWLink, and administrators should ensure these updates are applied to protect against exploitation. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for broadcast storm patterns and establish network baseline measurements to quickly identify anomalous traffic behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts.