CVE-2004-1080 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The WINS service (wins.exe) on Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Windows 2000 Server, and Windows Server 2003 allows remote attackers to write to arbitrary memory locations and possibly execute arbitrary code via a modified memory pointer in a WINS replication packet to TCP port 42, aka the "Association Context Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1080 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the Windows Internet Name Service implementation that affects multiple server operating systems including Windows NT Server 4.0, Windows 2000 Server, and Windows Server 2003. This vulnerability specifically targets the WINS service process known as wins.exe which is responsible for managing the Windows Internet Name Service that provides name resolution services for Windows networks. The flaw manifests through a malformed memory pointer within WINS replication packets transmitted over TCP port 42, which serves as the standard port for WINS replication traffic between domain controllers and WINS servers. The vulnerability operates at the core of the Windows networking infrastructure and represents a fundamental design flaw in how the WINS service processes incoming replication data, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication credentials.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts a specially malformed WINS replication packet that contains a modified memory pointer value. When the vulnerable WINS service processes this packet, the malformed pointer causes the service to write data to arbitrary memory locations within the process address space. This memory corruption behavior aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and specifically represents a classic case of uncontrolled memory access that can be leveraged for privilege escalation. The attacker can manipulate the memory pointer to point to specific memory locations and write controlled data, potentially overwriting critical program execution structures or function pointers. This type of memory corruption vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the WINS service account, typically running with high system privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially compromise entire Windows domain environments, as WINS servers often serve as critical infrastructure components for name resolution and network communication. When exploited, the vulnerability can allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to network resources, manipulate DNS and WINS records, and potentially pivot to other systems within the domain. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or prior authentication, making it particularly attractive for cybercriminals and nation-state actors targeting Windows enterprise environments. Organizations running affected Windows Server versions face significant risk of unauthorized system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches released in response to this vulnerability, as well as network-level controls to restrict access to TCP port 42. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate WINS servers from untrusted networks and consider disabling WINS replication where not strictly required. The security community has classified this vulnerability as having high severity due to its remote exploitability and potential for privilege escalation, with the ATT&CK framework categorizing it under multiple techniques including T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation and T1566 for credential harvesting through network infiltration. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous WINS replication traffic patterns and memory corruption indicators can help identify exploitation attempts before successful compromise occurs. Organizations should also consider migrating away from WINS in favor of DNS-based name resolution where possible, as DNS provides more robust security mechanisms and is less prone to similar memory corruption vulnerabilities.