Microsoft Windows NT 4.0/2000/XP Messenger Service memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.1$0-$5k0.16

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as very critical has been found in Microsoft Windows NT 4.0/2000/XP. This affects an unknown part of the component Messenger Service. Such manipulation leads to memory corruption. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2003-0717. 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 was found in Microsoft Windows NT 4.0/2000/XP (Operating System). It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is an unknown part of the component Messenger Service. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to 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. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

The Messenger Service for Windows NT through Server 2003 does not properly verify the length of the message, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a buffer overflow attack.

The bug was discovered 01/01/2001. The weakness was disclosed 10/15/2003 by Last Stage with The Last Stage of Delirium Research Group as MS03-043 as confirmed bulletin (Technet). The advisory is shared for download at microsoft.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2003-0717 since 09/02/2003. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available.

A public exploit has been developed by LSD-PLaNET and been published 2 months after the advisory. The exploit is available at immunitysec.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 1017 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 11890 (MS03-043: Buffer Overrun in Messenger Service (828035) (uncredentialed check)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows and relying on port 135. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 70033 (Microsoft Windows NT Messenger Service Buffer Overrun Vulnerability (MS03-043)).

Applying the patch MS03-043 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at microsoft.com. Attack attempts may be identified with Snort ID 3235. In this case the pattern |04 00| is used for detection. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 2421.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (13413), Exploit-DB (111), Tenable (11890), SecurityFocus (BID 8826†) and OSVDB (10936†). xforce.iss.net is providing further details. The entries VDB-82, VDB-333, VDB-427 and VDB-561 are pretty similar. If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

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Support

  • end of life (old version)

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.1

VulDB Base Score: 5.6
VulDB Temp Score: 5.1
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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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
Author: LSD-PLaNET
Download: 🔍

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Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 11890
Nessus Name: MS03-043: Buffer Overrun in Messenger Service (828035) (uncredentialed check)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 11888
OpenVAS Name: Buffer Overrun in Messenger Service (828035)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍
Exploit Delay Time: 🔍

Patch: MS03-043

Snort ID: 3235
Snort Message: NETBIOS Messenger message overflow attempt
Snort Class: 🔍
Snort Pattern: 🔍

Suricata ID: 2102258
Suricata Class: 🔍
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TippingPoint: 🔍

McAfee IPS: 🔍
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SourceFire IPS: 🔍
ISS Proventia IPS: 🔍
PaloAlto IPS: 🔍
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Timelineinfo

01/01/2001 🔍
09/02/2003 +974 days 🔍
10/15/2003 +43 days 🔍
10/15/2003 +0 days 🔍
10/15/2003 +0 days 🔍
10/15/2003 +0 days 🔍
10/16/2003 +1 days 🔍
10/16/2003 +0 days 🔍
10/22/2003 +6 days 🔍
11/16/2003 +25 days 🔍
11/17/2003 +1 days 🔍
04/09/2004 +143 days 🔍
08/11/2025 +7794 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com
Product: microsoft.com

Advisory: MS03-043
Researcher: Last Stage
Organization: The Last Stage of Delirium Research Group
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2003-0717 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2003-0717
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-332

OVAL: 🔍

CERT: 🔍
X-Force: 13413 - Microsoft Windows Messenger Service popup buffer overflow, High Risk
SecurityFocus: 8826 - Microsoft Windows Messenger Service Buffer Overrun Vulnerability
OSVDB: 10936 - Microsoft Windows Messenger Service Message Length Remote Overflow
SecurityTracker: 1007933 - Microsoft Windows Messenger Service Buffer Overflow Lets Remote Users Execute Arbitrary Code With Local System Privileges
Vulnerability Center: 2645 - [MS03-043] Buffer Overflow in Microsoft Messenger Service Allows Arbitrary Code Execution, Critical

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

Entryinfo

Created: 10/16/2003 11:26
Updated: 08/11/2025 02:39
Changes: 10/16/2003 11:26 (104), 04/30/2019 15:08 (17), 03/08/2021 18:42 (2), 12/31/2024 07:40 (15), 08/11/2025 02:39 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:8ED:103

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