CVE-2001-0662 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
RPC endpoint mapper in Windows NT 4.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (loss of RPC services) via a malformed request.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0662 targets the Remote Procedure Call endpoint mapper component within Windows NT 4.0 operating systems. This critical flaw resides in the core RPC infrastructure that enables distributed computing operations across networked systems. The endpoint mapper serves as a directory service that helps clients locate RPC servers by maintaining mappings between interface identifiers and network addresses. When exploited, this vulnerability allows remote attackers to disrupt essential RPC services through the submission of malformed requests that the endpoint mapper cannot properly process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the RPC endpoint mapper service. When the service receives a specially crafted malformed request, it fails to properly validate the incoming data structure, leading to unpredictable behavior that ultimately results in service disruption. This flaw operates at the protocol level of the RPC communication stack and specifically affects the endpoint mapper daemon that listens for incoming requests on standard RPC ports. The vulnerability represents a classic buffer over-read condition where the service attempts to parse malformed data without adequate bounds checking, causing system instability and service termination.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to enterprise environments running Windows NT 4.0 systems, particularly those relying on RPC-based services for critical business operations. The denial of service impact extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially compromise entire distributed application infrastructures that depend on RPC communications. Organizations utilizing legacy Windows NT 4.0 servers for file sharing, print services, or database connectivity face substantial operational risks when this vulnerability remains unpatched. The attack vector requires no authentication and can be executed from any network location, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network segmentation is insufficient.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a variant of CWE-129 Input Validation and a potential ATT&CK technique under T1499.004 Network Denial of Service. The remediation approach centers on applying Microsoft security patches specifically designed to address RPC endpoint mapper vulnerabilities in Windows NT 4.0 systems. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to RPC ports and consider disabling unnecessary RPC services where possible. Additionally, monitoring for unusual RPC endpoint mapper activity and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts. Given the age of Windows NT 4.0, organizations should prioritize migration to supported operating systems while maintaining proper patch management for any remaining legacy systems to prevent exploitation of this and similar historical vulnerabilities.