Microsoft Windows 2000 Telnet Server memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Microsoft Windows 2000. The affected element is an unknown function of the component Telnet Server. This manipulation causes memory corruption. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2002-0020. No exploit exists. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Microsoft Windows 2000 (Operating System). Affected by this vulnerability is some unknown processing of the component Telnet Server. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is 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. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Buffer overflow in telnet server in Windows 2000 and Interix 2.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via malformed protocol options.

The issue has been introduced in 02/17/2000. The weakness was disclosed 03/08/2002 with Microsoft as MS02-004 as confirmed bulletin (Technet). It is possible to read the advisory at microsoft.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2002-0020. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not publicly available.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 750 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $100k and more. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 11314 (MS02-004: Microsoft Telnet Server Protocol Option Handling Remote Overflow (307298) (intrusive 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 r. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 38100 (Microsoft Telnet Server Buffer Overflow Vulnerability (MS02-004)).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch MS02-004 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at microsoft.com. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (8094), Tenable (11314), SecurityFocus (BID 4061†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-1760†). The entry VDB-17946 is pretty similar. Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality 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: 7.0

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 7.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
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: 11314
Nessus Name: MS02-004: Microsoft Telnet Server Protocol Option Handling Remote Overflow (307298) (intrusive check)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 102008
OpenVAS Name: MS Telnet Overflow
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Patch: MS02-004

Timelineinfo

02/17/2000 🔍
02/07/2002 +721 days 🔍
03/08/2002 +29 days 🔍
03/08/2002 +0 days 🔍
03/08/2002 +0 days 🔍
03/03/2003 +360 days 🔍
08/21/2003 +171 days 🔍
07/11/2014 +3977 days 🔍
09/23/2025 +4092 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com
Product: microsoft.com

Advisory: MS02-004
Organization: Microsoft
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2002-0020 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2002-0020
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-17947

OVAL: 🔍

X-Force: 8094
SecurityFocus: 4061 - Microsoft Telnet Server Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
Vulnerability Center: 1760 - [MS02-004] Buffer Overflow in Telnet Server of Windows 2000 and Interix 2.2 Allows Command Execution, Critical

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 07/11/2014 13:38
Updated: 09/23/2025 18:57
Changes: 07/11/2014 13:38 (74), 05/11/2019 20:19 (4), 09/23/2025 18:57 (18)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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