Microsoft Windows 2000 Share $ADMIN improper authentication

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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9.4$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Microsoft Windows 2000. This affects an unknown part of the component Share Handler. This manipulation of the argument $ADMIN causes improper authentication. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2000-0222. No exploit is available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Windows 2000 (Operating System). It has been declared as very critical. Affected by this vulnerability is some unknown functionality of the component Share Handler. The manipulation of the argument $ADMIN with an unknown input leads to a improper authentication vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-287. When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

The installation for Windows 2000 does not activate the Administrator password until the system has rebooted, which allows remote attackers to connect to the ADMIN$ share without a password until the reboot occurs.

The issue has been introduced in 02/17/2000. The weakness was published 02/15/2000 (Website). The advisory is shared at securityfocus.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2000-0222. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/18/2025).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 10394 (Microsoft Windows SMB Log In Possible), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows and running in the context r. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 70017 (Microsoft Windows Unprotected ADMIN$ Share Vulnerability).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 2178.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (3992), Tenable (10394), SecurityFocus (BID 990†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-653†). Similar entry is available at VDB-13819. If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 9.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.4

VulDB Base Score: 9.8
VulDB Temp Score: 9.4
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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💳💳💳💳💳💳
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Improper authentication
CWE: CWE-287
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 10394
Nessus Name: Microsoft Windows SMB Log In Possible
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍
TippingPoint: 🔍

McAfee IPS: 🔍
McAfee IPS Version: 🔍

ISS Proventia IPS: 🔍
PaloAlto IPS: 🔍

Timelineinfo

02/15/2000 🔍
02/15/2000 +0 days 🔍
02/15/2000 +0 days 🔍
02/15/2000 +0 days 🔍
02/17/2000 +2 days 🔍
05/09/2000 +82 days 🔍
01/15/2003 +981 days 🔍
06/23/2014 +4177 days 🔍
10/18/2025 +4135 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com
Product: microsoft.com

Advisory: securityfocus.com⛔
Researcher: Posted to Bugtraq on February 15, 2000 by Stephane Aubert .
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2000-0222 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2000-0222
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-15325
X-Force: 3992
SecurityFocus: 990 - Microsoft Windows 2000 Install Unprotected ADMIN$ Share Vulnerability
Vulnerability Center: 653 - Weak or no password on Microsoft Windows share, Medium

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 06/23/2014 17:36
Updated: 10/18/2025 10:18
Changes: 06/23/2014 17:36 (71), 05/08/2019 06:42 (3), 10/08/2020 08:05 (1), 10/18/2025 10:18 (20)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:EFC:103

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