Arbitrary Code Execution in Microsoft WINS

Reported November 28, 2004, by Immunity

VERSIONS AFFECTED                                           

·         Microsoft WINS

DESCRIPTION
A vulnerability exists in Microsoft WINS that could result in the remote execution of arbitrary code on the vulnerable system. WINS replication is done on TCP port 42 using a Microsoft proprietary protocol. During this protocol flow, a memory pointer is sent from server to client, and the client uses that pointer to talk with the server. If a specially crafted packet is sent to the server, an attacker can control the pointer and can make it point to an attacker-controlled buffer and eventually write 16 bytes at any location.

VENDOR RESPONSE
Microsoft, has released "How to help protect against a WINS security issue," http://support.microsoft.com/kbid?=890710, to address this vulnerability.

CREDIT
Discovered by Nicolas Waisman.