CVE-2005-3175 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
microsoft windows 2000 before update rollup 1 for sp4 allows a local administrator to unlock a computer even if it has been locked by a domain administrator which allows the local administrator to access the session as the domain administrator.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2021
This vulnerability exists in microsoft windows 2000 systems prior to update rollup 1 for service pack 4 and represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that undermines the security model of domain-joined systems. The issue stems from improper handling of session locking mechanisms where local administrative privileges can bypass domain-level lock restrictions. This creates a dangerous scenario where a local administrator can unlock a computer that has been locked by a domain administrator, effectively allowing unauthorized access to domain administrator sessions. The vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and breaks down the security boundaries that separate local and domain administrative rights within windows environments. According to cwe-284, this represents an improper access control vulnerability where the system fails to properly enforce access restrictions between different administrative roles. The flaw operates at the operating system level and affects the authentication and session management components that govern how system locks are enforced across domain boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the session management subsystem in windows 2000 where the locking mechanism does not properly validate the administrative context of the user attempting to unlock the system. When a domain administrator locks a computer, the system should maintain the locked state regardless of local administrative privileges. However, this vulnerability allows local administrators to bypass these protections through a flaw in the session unlocking process. The attack vector is local privilege escalation since the attacker must already possess local administrative rights on the target system. This aligns with attack technique t1068 in the att&ck framework which describes privilege escalation through local system access. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor mechanism where local administrative rights can be leveraged to gain domain administrative access, effectively undermining the security architecture of domain environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows local administrators to impersonate domain administrators and potentially access sensitive domain resources, user accounts, and system configurations. This could lead to complete domain compromise where attackers can escalate privileges from local administrator to domain administrator status without detection. The vulnerability affects enterprise environments where windows 2000 systems are still operational, particularly in legacy infrastructure where updates have not been applied. Organizations using windows 2000 in production environments face significant risk of unauthorized access to domain resources, including access to sensitive data, user credentials, and system configurations. The vulnerability also impacts compliance requirements for information security standards such as iso 27001 and pci dss where proper access controls and privilege management are mandatory. This type of flaw represents a critical gap in the security model of windows 2000 systems and demonstrates the importance of timely patch management.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate application of update rollup 1 for service pack 4 which addresses the session management flaw in windows 2000 systems. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management policies to ensure all windows 2000 systems receive the necessary security updates. Additionally, security administrators should review and restrict local administrative privileges on domain-joined systems where possible, implementing the principle of least privilege. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts and privilege escalation activities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and the risks associated with running unsupported operating systems in enterprise environments. Organizations should also consider implementing additional access controls such as mandatory access controls and enhanced auditing of administrative activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in legacy systems. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing applications or services running on windows 2000 systems.