CVE-2003-0605 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The RPC DCOM interface in Windows 2000 SP3 and SP4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash), and local attackers to use the DoS to hijack the epmapper pipe to gain privileges, via certain messages to the __RemoteGetClassObject interface that cause a NULL pointer to be passed to the PerformScmStage function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2003-0605 represents a critical flaw in the Windows 2000 RPC DCOM implementation that affects systems running Service Pack 3 and Service Pack 4. This issue stems from improper validation of input parameters within the RemoteGetClassObject interface, creating a pathway for both remote denial of service attacks and local privilege escalation. The flaw manifests when specific malformed messages are sent to the DCOM interface, triggering a NULL pointer dereference that ultimately leads to system instability and potential privilege compromise.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the PerformScmStage function within the Windows Component Object Model infrastructure. When the __RemoteGetClassObject interface receives certain crafted messages, it fails to properly validate incoming parameters before passing them to the PerformScmStage function. This validation failure results in a NULL pointer being passed to the function, which then attempts to dereference this invalid pointer, causing an access violation and system crash. The vulnerability specifically targets the epmapper pipe, which serves as a crucial component in the DCOM architecture for managing class object registration and retrieval operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a dual threat to system security and availability. Remote attackers can exploit the flaw to cause denial of service conditions by sending malicious RPC messages that crash the target system, effectively rendering the service unavailable to legitimate users. Local attackers, however, can leverage the same vulnerability to escalate privileges by hijacking the epmapper pipe after the system has crashed, potentially gaining elevated system privileges. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it combines availability and integrity threats within a single exploit vector, making it a comprehensive security concern for Windows 2000 environments.
The impact of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which describes NULL pointer dereference conditions, and it represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to severe security consequences. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple techniques including T1068 for local privilege escalation and T1499 for network denial of service. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that DCOM services are often enabled by default on Windows systems, and the attack can be executed remotely without requiring authentication. Organizations running Windows 2000 systems should implement immediate mitigations including disabling unnecessary DCOM services, applying the appropriate Microsoft security patches, and implementing network segmentation to limit exposure to potential attackers. Additionally, monitoring for unusual RPC traffic patterns and system crashes can help detect exploitation attempts and provide early warning of potential compromise.