CVE-2000-1079 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
Interactions between the CIFS Browser Protocol and NetBIOS as implemented in Microsoft Windows 95, 98, NT, and 2000 allow remote attackers to modify dynamic NetBIOS name cache entries via a spoofed Browse Frame Request in a unicast or UDP broadcast datagram.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2000-1079 represents a critical security flaw in Microsoft Windows operating systems including Windows 95, 98, NT, and 2000. This issue stems from the improper handling of NetBIOS name resolution mechanisms within the CIFS (Common Internet File System) protocol implementation. The vulnerability specifically affects how these systems process browse frame requests that are transmitted via unicast or UDP broadcast datagrams, creating an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to manipulate the dynamic NetBIOS name cache entries.
The technical flaw resides in the insufficient validation and authentication mechanisms of the NetBIOS browsing protocol implementation. When Windows systems receive browse frame requests, they do not adequately verify the authenticity of the source sending these requests. This weakness enables attackers to craft and transmit spoofed browse frames that appear to originate from legitimate network sources. The protocol's design assumes trust in the network environment, failing to implement proper source validation checks that would normally be expected in secure network communications. The vulnerability operates at the network layer where NetBIOS name resolution occurs, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from remote locations without requiring local system access or authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple name cache manipulation, as it can lead to significant network disruption and potential unauthorized access to network resources. Attackers can exploit this weakness to poison the NetBIOS name cache, causing legitimate network services to become unreachable or redirect traffic to malicious endpoints. This cache poisoning attack can effectively disable network browsing capabilities, disrupt file sharing services, and potentially enable man-in-the-middle attacks where legitimate network traffic is intercepted and redirected. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where Windows systems rely heavily on NetBIOS name resolution for network discovery and resource access, making it a serious concern for enterprise networks.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-310 (Cryptographic Issues) categories, as it involves improper handling of network authentication and trust relationships. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) and T1566 (Phishing) in its exploitation of network protocol weaknesses. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate critical systems, disabling unnecessary NetBIOS services where possible, and implementing proper network monitoring to detect anomalous browse frame traffic patterns. Microsoft released security patches addressing this vulnerability, but the fundamental issue highlights the need for robust network protocol design that does not rely on implicit trust assumptions between network participants. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and source authentication in network protocols, as the lack of these security controls created a pathway for remote attackers to manipulate core network resolution mechanisms.