CVE-2004-0567 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) in Windows NT Server 4.0 SP 6a, NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP 6, Windows 2000 Server SP3 and SP4, and Windows Server 2003 does not properly validate the computer name value in a WINS packet, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (server crash), which results in an "unchecked buffer" and possibly triggers a buffer overflow, aka the "Name Validation Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2025
The Windows Internet Naming Service WINS vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow flaw that affects multiple versions of Microsoft Windows server operating systems including Windows NT Server 4.0 SP6a, Windows 2000 Server SP3 and SP4, and Windows Server 2003. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the WINS packet processing mechanism where the system fails to properly validate computer name values transmitted through WINS packets. The flaw manifests as an unchecked buffer condition that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or induce denial of service conditions resulting in system crashes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the WINS service's handling of computer names within network packets without proper bounds checking or validation procedures. When a malformed WINS packet containing an excessively long or malformed computer name value is received, the system's buffer management routines fail to validate the input size before copying data into fixed-size memory buffers. This unchecked buffer condition directly maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability's exploitation potential increases significantly because WINS operates as a critical network service that facilitates name resolution in windows environments.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents substantial risks to network infrastructure as WINS is essential for name resolution in windows domains and can be accessed remotely through standard network protocols. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges, potentially gaining complete control over affected servers. The denial of service component creates additional operational impact by causing server crashes and disrupting network services, which can affect business continuity and availability of critical applications. The vulnerability's presence in multiple server versions from the windows nt 4.0 era through windows server 2003 indicates a widespread exposure that affects enterprise networks relying on these legacy systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of microsoft security patches and updates to address the buffer overflow conditions in WINS packet handling. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit WINS service exposure and restrict access to WINS ports from trusted networks only. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual WINS packet patterns and malformed computer name values that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework includes techniques related to privilege escalation and denial of service operations, making it a significant concern for enterprise security teams. Regular vulnerability assessments and network scanning should identify systems running outdated WINS services that may still be vulnerable to this exploitation vector. System administrators should also consider disabling WINS services where they are not strictly required for network operations to reduce attack surface and prevent potential exploitation of this and related buffer overflow vulnerabilities in legacy windows server environments.