CVE-2005-1980 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
Distributed Transaction Controller in Microsoft Windows allows remote servers to cause a denial of service (MSDTC service hang) via a crafted Transaction Internet Protocol (TIP) message that causes DTC to repeatedly connect to a target IP and port number after an error occurs, aka the "Distributed TIP Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2025
The Distributed Transaction Controller (MSDTC) service in Microsoft Windows represents a critical component of the operating system's transaction management infrastructure, facilitating distributed transactions across multiple resources and servers. This service operates as part of the Windows Distributed COM (DCOM) framework and is essential for maintaining data consistency in enterprise environments where multiple databases or resources must participate in a single transaction. The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-1980 specifically targets the Transaction Internet Protocol (TIP) implementation within MSDTC, exposing a fundamental flaw in how the service handles error conditions and subsequent connection attempts.
The technical flaw manifests when a remote attacker crafts a malicious TIP message that triggers a specific error condition within the MSDTC service. Under normal circumstances, when an error occurs during transaction processing, the MSDTC service should gracefully handle the failure and terminate the connection attempt. However, this vulnerability causes the service to enter a problematic state where it repeatedly attempts to reconnect to a specified target IP address and port number even after encountering an error condition. This behavior creates an infinite loop of connection attempts that consumes system resources and ultimately leads to service unresponsiveness.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it represents a classic denial of service attack vector that can compromise the availability of critical transaction processing capabilities within enterprise networks. When the MSDTC service becomes unresponsive due to this vulnerability, it affects all applications and services that depend on distributed transaction processing, potentially causing cascading failures across interconnected systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to disrupt business operations. The repeated connection attempts also generate significant network traffic and system load, which can be easily detected through network monitoring and system performance analysis.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which describes "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" as a common weakness pattern in software systems. The repeated connection attempts represent an uncontrolled consumption of network resources and system memory, leading to the service hang condition that defines the denial of service. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1499.004 technique for "Endpoint Denial of Service" and potentially T1071.004 for "Application Layer Protocol: DNS" if the connection attempts involve DNS resolution failures. The vulnerability demonstrates how flaws in system-level services can create widespread impact across enterprise environments, particularly in scenarios where multiple applications rely on distributed transaction processing for data consistency and integrity. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit exposure, apply security patches promptly, and monitor for unusual connection patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper error handling in distributed systems and the need for robust resource management to prevent uncontrolled consumption of system resources.