Microsoft Windows up to Server 2003 Print Spooler memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as very critical has been identified in Microsoft Windows up to Server 2003. This impacts an unknown function of the component Print Spooler. The manipulation results in memory corruption. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2005-1984. The attack can be launched remotely. Moreover, an exploit is present. It is advisable to implement a patch to correct this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as very critical has been found in Microsoft Windows up to Server 2003 (Operating System). Affected is an unknown code block of the component Print Spooler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Buffer overflow in the Print Spooler service (Spoolsv.exe) for Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a malicious message.

The bug was discovered 08/09/2005. The weakness was disclosed 08/09/2005 by Kostya Kortchinsky with CERT Renater as MS05-043 as confirmed bulletin (Technet). The advisory is shared for download at microsoft.com. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2005-1984 since 06/17/2005. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. Technical details are unknown but an exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 06/30/2025).

The exploit is shared for download at immunitysec.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. As 0-day the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 19407 (MS05-043: Vulnerability in Printer Spooler Service Could Allow Remote Code Execution (896423) (uncredentialed check)), 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 l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 90270 (Windows Print Spooler Service Remote Code Execution (MS05-043)).

Applying the patch MS05-043 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at windowsupdate.microsoft.com. Attack attempts may be identified with Snort ID 11843. In this case the pattern |05 00 00| is used for detection. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 3676.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (21605), Tenable (19407), SecurityFocus (BID 14514†), OSVDB (18607†) and Secunia (SA16356†). The entries VDB-82, VDB-332, VDB-333 and VDB-427 are pretty similar. Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.6

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 19407
Nessus Name: MS05-043: Vulnerability in Printer Spooler Service Could Allow Remote Code Execution (896423) (uncredentialed check)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Patch: MS05-043

Snort ID: 11843
Snort Message: NETBIOS DCERPC NCACN-IP-TCP spoolss AddPrinter overflow attempt
Snort Pattern: 🔍
TippingPoint: 🔍

McAfee IPS: 🔍
McAfee IPS Version: 🔍

SourceFire IPS: 🔍
ISS Proventia IPS: 🔍
PaloAlto IPS: 🔍
Fortigate IPS: 🔍

Timelineinfo

06/17/2005 🔍
08/09/2005 +53 days 🔍
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06/30/2025 +7264 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com
Product: microsoft.com

Advisory: MS05-043
Researcher: Kostya Kortchinsky
Organization: CERT Renater
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2005-1984 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2005-1984
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-1692

OVAL: 🔍

CERT: 🔍
X-Force: 21605
SecurityFocus: 14514 - Microsoft Windows Print Spooler Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
Secunia: 16356 - Microsoft Windows Print Spooler Service Buffer Overflow Vulnerability, Moderately Critical
OSVDB: 18607 - Microsoft Windows Print Spooler Service Remote Overflow
SecurityTracker: 1014638
Vulnerability Center: 8892 - [MS05-043] Buffer Overflow in Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Print Spool, High

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 08/10/2005 11:16
Updated: 06/30/2025 09:17
Changes: 08/10/2005 11:16 (105), 07/04/2019 09:20 (1), 01/04/2025 15:24 (18), 06/30/2025 09:17 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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