Microsoft Windows NT 4.0/2000 POSIX Subsystem memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.9$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Windows NT 4.0/2000. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects some unknown processing of the component POSIX Subsystem. This manipulation causes memory corruption. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2004-0210. The attacker needs to be present on the local network. In addition, an exploit is available. To fix this issue, it is recommended to deploy a patch.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Windows NT 4.0/2000 (Operating System). It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown function of the component POSIX Subsystem. 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:

The POSIX component of Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 2000 allows local users to execute arbitrary code via certain parameters, possibly by modifying message length values and causing a buffer overflow.

The bug was discovered 07/13/2004. The weakness was presented 07/13/2004 by Rafal Wojtczuk with McAfee as MS04-020 as confirmed bulletin (Technet). It is possible to read the advisory at microsoft.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2004-0210 since 03/11/2004. The attack needs to approached within the local network. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available.

After 3 days, there has been an exploit disclosed. It is possible to download the exploit at k-otik.com. It is declared as attacked. We expect the 0-day to have been worth approximately $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 13638 (MS04-020: Vulnerability in POSIX could allow code execution (841872)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows : Microsoft Bulletins and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 90133 (Microsoft Windows POSIX Local Privilege Elevation (MS04-020)). The CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog lists this issue since 03/03/2022 with a due date of 03/24/2022:

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Applying the patch MS04-020 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at microsoft.com. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (16590), Exploit-DB (24277), Tenable (13638), EUVD (EUVD-2004-0210) and SecurityFocus (BID 10710†). Additional details are provided at go.microsoft.com. See VDB-761 for similar entry. Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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CPE 2.2info

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CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.9

VulDB Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.0
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NVD Base Score: 7.8
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CVSSv2info

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Exploitinginfo

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

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Attacked
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Nessus ID: 13638
Nessus Name: MS04-020: Vulnerability in POSIX could allow code execution (841872)
Nessus File: 🔍
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Threat Intelligenceinfo

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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
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Patch: MS04-020

Timelineinfo

03/11/2004 🔍
07/13/2004 +124 days 🔍
07/13/2004 +0 days 🔍
07/13/2004 +0 days 🔍
07/13/2004 +0 days 🔍
07/13/2004 +0 days 🔍
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07/13/2004 +0 days 🔍
07/14/2004 +0 days 🔍
07/14/2004 +0 days 🔍
07/16/2004 +2 days 🔍
08/06/2004 +21 days 🔍
08/19/2025 +7683 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com
Product: microsoft.com

Advisory: MS04-020
Researcher: Rafal Wojtczuk
Organization: McAfee
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2004-0210 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2004-0210
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-763
EUVD: 🔍

OVAL: 🔍

CERT: 🔍
X-Force: 16590 - Microsoft Windows POSIX buffer overflow allows local attacker to gain privileges, High Risk
SecurityFocus: 10710 - Microsoft Windows POSIX Subsystem Buffer Overflow Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Secunia: 12062 - Microsoft Windows POSIX Subsystem Privilege Escalation Vulnerability, Less Critical
OSVDB: 7800 - Microsoft Windows POSIX Subsystem Privilege Escalation
SecuriTeam: securiteam.com
Vulnerability Center: 4726 - [MS04-020] POSIX Component of Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 2000 Allows Code Execution, High

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013
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Entryinfo

Created: 07/14/2004 12:59
Updated: 08/19/2025 21:15
Changes: 07/14/2004 12:59 (98), 06/28/2019 21:46 (2), 04/23/2024 06:32 (29), 07/16/2024 22:38 (12), 09/09/2024 22:29 (1), 01/02/2025 12:59 (1), 07/13/2025 11:10 (2), 07/30/2025 06:10 (1), 08/19/2025 21:15 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:B36:103

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