CVE-2002-1141 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
An input validation error in the Sun Microsystems RPC library Services for Unix 3.0 Interix SD, as implemented on Microsoft Windows NT4, 2000, and XP, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via malformed fragmented RPC client packets, aka "Denial of service by sending an invalid RPC request."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1141 represents a critical input validation flaw within the Sun Microsystems RPC library implementation known as Services for Unix 3.0 Interix SD. This specific implementation was designed to provide Unix-like services on Microsoft Windows operating systems, particularly targeting Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, and Windows XP platforms. The flaw resides in how the system processes incoming Remote Procedure Call client packets, specifically when these packets are fragmented during transmission across network boundaries. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of packet structures and content, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system through carefully crafted malformed data.
This input validation error manifests as a failure to properly sanitize and verify the integrity of fragmented RPC client packets received by the system. When the Interix SD RPC service encounters malformed packets that do not conform to expected protocols, the system's processing logic fails to handle these exceptions gracefully. The vulnerability operates at the network protocol level where RPC communications are established between client and server components, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication or local access privileges. The flaw essentially creates a condition where the service becomes unresponsive or crashes when processing these malformed inputs, leading to system instability and service disruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption to encompass broader system reliability concerns within enterprise environments that rely on Unix emulation services. Organizations running affected systems face potential denial of service conditions that can impact critical business applications depending on RPC services for inter-process communication. The vulnerability affects systems where Services for Unix 3.0 Interix SD is actively deployed, particularly in environments where Windows systems need to interoperate with Unix-based services or when legacy applications depend on RPC functionality. Attackers can leverage this weakness by sending specifically crafted fragmented RPC packets that trigger the input validation failure, causing the service to consume excessive resources or crash entirely.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation" and represents a classic example of how protocol implementation flaws can create denial of service conditions. The attack vector falls under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves "Evasion: File and Directory Permissions Modification" and specifically targets service availability through malformed input processing. The vulnerability demonstrates how legacy system components, particularly those implementing cross-platform compatibility layers, can harbor security weaknesses that persist across multiple operating system versions. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessment frameworks, particularly when evaluating systems that maintain older Unix emulation capabilities or when legacy applications require RPC-based communication channels.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1141 should focus on immediate patching of affected systems through official vendor updates or service packs that address the RPC input validation issues. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of affected systems to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual RPC traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments should verify that all RPC services are properly configured with appropriate input validation and that unnecessary RPC services are disabled. System administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on malformed RPC packets that match the vulnerability characteristics, providing early warning capabilities for potential exploitation attempts.