CVE-2004-0119 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The Negotiate Security Software Provider (SSP) interface in Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash from null dereference) or execute arbitrary code via a crafted SPNEGO NegTokenInit request during authentication protocol selection.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-0119 represents a critical security flaw in the Windows authentication subsystem that affects multiple operating systems including Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003. This issue resides within the Negotiate Security Software Provider interface which is responsible for handling authentication protocol selection using the Simple and Protected Negotiation GSS-API (SPNEGO) mechanism. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes a crafted SPNEGO NegTokenInit request during the authentication process, creating a path for remote attackers to exploit the system's security controls.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the SSP interface implementation. When processing the NegTokenInit message, the system fails to properly validate the structure and content of the received SPNEGO token, leading to a null pointer dereference condition. This null dereference occurs because the system attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly initialized or allocated, resulting in an abrupt system crash or potential code execution. The flaw falls under CWE-476 which specifically addresses null pointer dereference vulnerabilities, and represents a classic example of improper input validation that allows attackers to manipulate system behavior through malformed data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with the capability to either crash the targeted system through denial of service or potentially execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability without requiring local access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments. When the system crashes due to the null dereference, it results in a complete service interruption that can affect authentication services and potentially compromise the availability of critical network resources. The code execution aspect presents an even greater risk as it could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to the system, potentially escalating privileges to administrator or system level access.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access, as the exploitation could lead to privilege escalation and persistent access to compromised systems. The vulnerability also maps to T1499 which covers network denial of service attacks, as the denial of service component can be used to disrupt authentication services and potentially cause broader network disruption. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability was particularly concerning given the widespread deployment of affected Windows versions and the fact that it could be exploited through network-based attacks without requiring any special privileges or authentication.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate patching and network-level protections. Microsoft released security updates to address this issue, and system administrators should prioritize applying these patches to all affected systems. Network segmentation and firewall rules can help limit the exposure of vulnerable systems to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual authentication protocol interactions that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify crafted SPNEGO NegTokenInit requests may provide early warning of attempted exploitation. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary authentication protocols where possible and implementing robust logging and monitoring of authentication events to detect potential abuse of this vulnerability.