CVE-2006-2380 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4 does not properly validate an RPC server during mutual authentication over SSL, which allows remote attackers to spoof an RPC server, aka the "RPC Mutual Authentication Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2380 represents a critical flaw in Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 that undermines the security of remote procedure call communications. This issue specifically affects the mutual authentication process that occurs over Secure Sockets Layer connections, creating a pathway for malicious actors to compromise the integrity of RPC communications. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms that should verify the authenticity of RPC servers during the mutual authentication handshake process.
This technical weakness operates at the protocol level where Windows 2000 systems fail to adequately authenticate the identity of RPC servers participating in SSL-protected communications. The flaw allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting falsified server credentials during the SSL negotiation phase, effectively enabling them to impersonate legitimate RPC servers. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it occurs during the authentication phase, meaning that once an attacker successfully spoofs the RPC server, they can potentially intercept, modify, or redirect RPC communications between clients and legitimate servers.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability exposes Windows 2000 systems to significant risks including unauthorized access to network resources, data interception, and potential lateral movement within networks. The impact extends beyond individual system compromise as RPC services are fundamental to Windows networking, enabling distributed applications, system management, and inter-process communications. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain elevated privileges, access sensitive data, or establish persistent access points within network environments where Windows 2000 systems are deployed.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. This classification emphasizes the fundamental flaw in the authentication mechanism where the system fails to properly validate server identities. Additionally, the vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1075 which covers legitimate credentials usage, as attackers could leverage this flaw to impersonate legitimate services and gain unauthorized access to network resources. Organizations running Windows 2000 systems were particularly vulnerable since these systems had reached end-of-life status and no longer received security updates, making them prime targets for exploitation of such authentication weaknesses.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include implementing network segmentation to isolate critical systems, deploying additional authentication layers beyond the affected RPC mechanism, and upgrading to supported operating systems where proper authentication mechanisms exist. Microsoft recommended disabling unnecessary RPC services and implementing network-level firewalls to restrict RPC communication to trusted sources. Organizations should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious RPC authentication patterns and ensure that all network communications are properly encrypted and authenticated using modern security protocols that address the fundamental issues present in the vulnerable Windows 2000 implementation.