Microsoft KB Archive/329834

= MS02-063: Unchecked Buffer in PPTP Implementation May Permit Denial-of-Service Attacks =

Article ID: 329834

Article Last Modified on 12/1/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

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This article was previously published under Q329834



SYMPTOMS
Windows 2000 and Windows XP have built-in support for Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP). This is a virtual private network (VPN) technology that is implemented as part of Remote Access Services. PPTP support is an optional component in Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition, and Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me).

There is a security vulnerability in the Windows 2000 and Windows XP implementations because of an unchecked buffer in a section of code that processes the control data that is used to establish, maintain, and remove PPTP connections. By delivering specially malformed PPTP control data to an affected server, an attacker might be able to corrupt kernel memory and cause the server to stop working, disrupting any work that is in progress on the server.

The vulnerability might be exploited against any server that offers PPTP. If a workstation is configured to operate as a remote access server that offers PPTP services, it can also be attacked. Workstations that act as PPTP clients can be attacked only during active PPTP sessions. Typical operation on an attacked computer can be restored by restarting the computer.



Windows XP
To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Windows XP. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322389 How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack

Windows 2000
To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Windows 2000. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

260910 How to Obtain the Latest Windows 2000 Service Pack

Windows XP
A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that you determine are at risk of attack. Evaluate your computer's physical accessibility, network and Internet connectivity, and other factors to determine the degree of risk to your computer. See the associated Microsoft Security Bulletin to help determine the degree of risk. This fix may receive additional testing. If your computer is sufficiently at risk, Microsoft recommends that you apply this fix now. Otherwise, wait for the next Windows XP service pack that contains this fix.

To resolve this problem immediately, download the fix by following the instructions later in this article or contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Download information
The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Windows XP Professional and Windows XP Home Edition

English (US): Download the Q329834 package now

Arabic: Download the Q329834 package now

Chinese (Simplified): Download the Q329834 package now

Chinese (Traditional): Download the Q329834 package now

Czech: Download the Q329834 package now

Danish: Download the Q329834 package now

Dutch: Download the Q329834 package now

Finnish: Download the Q329834 package now

French: Download the Q329834 package now

German: Download the Q329834 package now

Greek: Download the Q329834 package now

Hebrew: Download the Q329834 package now

Hungarian: Download the Q329834 package now

Italian: Download the Q329834 package now

Japanese: Download the Q329834 package now

Korean: Download the Q329834 package now

Norwegian: Download the Q329834 package now

Polish: Download the Q329834 package now

Portuguese: Download the Q329834 package now

Portuguese (Brazil): Download the Q329834 package now

Russian: Download the Q329834 package now

Spanish: Download the Q329834 package now

Swedish: Download the Q329834 package now

Turkish: Download the Q329834 package now

Windows XP 64-Bit Edition

English (US): Download the Q329834 package now

French: Download the Q329834 package now

German: Download the Q329834 package now

Japanese: Download the Q329834 package now

Release Date: October 30, 2002

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Installation information
You must restart your computer after you apply this update. This update supports the following Setup switches:
 * /? Display the list of installation switches.
 * /u Unattended mode.
 * /f Force other programs to quit when the computer shuts down.
 * /n Do not back up files for removal.
 * /o Overwrite OEM files without prompting.
 * /z Do not restart when installation is complete.
 * /q Quiet mode (no user interaction).
 * /l List installed hotfixes.
 * /x Extracts the files without running Setup.

For example, the following command line installs the update without any user intervention and then does not force the computer to restart:

q329834_wxp_sp2_x86_enu /q /m /z

WARNING: Your computer is vulnerable until you restart it.

File information
The English version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

The following files are installed in the %Windir%\System32\Drivers folder:

Windows XP Professional and Windows XP Home Edition   Date         Time   Version        Size    File name --  01-Oct-2002  23:43  5.1.2600.101   46,208  Raspptp.sys  (pre-SP1) 01-Oct-2002 22:52  5.1.2600.1129  46,208  Raspptp.sys  (with SP1) Windows XP 64-Bit Edition   Date         Time   Version        Size     File name ---  01-Oct-2002  23:43  5.1.2600.101   165,888  Raspptp.sys  (pre-SP1) 01-Oct-2002 22:52  5.1.2600.1128  166,528  Raspptp.sys  (with SP1)

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Windows 2000
A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that you determine are at risk of attack. Evaluate your computer's physical accessibility, network and Internet connectivity, and other factors to determine the degree of risk to your computer. See the associated Microsoft Security Bulletin to help determine the degree of risk. This fix may receive additional testing. If your computer is sufficiently at risk, Microsoft recommends that you apply this fix now. Otherwise, wait for the next Windows 2000 service pack that contains this fix.

To resolve this problem immediately, download the fix by following the instructions later in this article or contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Download information
The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

English Language Version

Arabic Language Version

Chinese (Simplified) Language Version

Chinese (Traditional) Language Version

Czech Language Version

Danish Language Version

Dutch Language Version

Finnish Language Version

French Language Version

German Language Version

Greek Language Version

Hebrew Language Version

Hungarian Language Version

Italian Language Version

Japanese Language Version

Japanese NEC Language Version

Korean Language Version

Norwegian Language Version

Polish Language Version

Portuguese (Brazilian) Language Version

Portuguese Language Version

Russian Language Version

Spanish Language Version

Swedish Language Version

Turkish Language Version

Release Date: October 30, 2002

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Installation information
Because of file dependencies, this update requires Windows 2000 Service Pack 1 (SP1), Windows 2000 Service Pack 2 (SP2), or Service Pack 3 (SP3). For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

260910 How to Obtain the Latest Windows 2000 Service Pack

You must restart your computer after you apply this update. This update supports the following Setup switches:
 * /? Display the list of installation switches.
 * /u Unattended mode.
 * /f Force other programs to quit when the computer shuts down.
 * /n Do not back up files for removal.
 * /o Overwrite OEM files without prompting.
 * /z Do not restart when installation is complete.
 * /q Quiet mode (no user interaction).
 * /l List installed hotfixes.
 * /x Extracts the files without running Setup.

For example, the following command line installs the update without any user intervention and then does not force the computer to restart:

q329834_w2k_sp4_x86_en /q /m /z

WARNING: Your computer is vulnerable until you restart it.

File information
The English version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

The following file is installed in the %Windir%\System32\Drivers folder:   Date         Time   Version        Size    File name --  01-Oct-2002  21:55  5.0.2195.6076  46,640  Raspptp.sys

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Windows XP
Microsoft has confirmed that this problem may cause a degree of security vulnerability in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was first corrected in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2.

Windows 2000
Microsoft has confirmed that this problem may cause a degree of security vulnerability in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was first corrected in Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4.



MORE INFORMATION
For more information about this vulnerability, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-063.mspx

Additional query words: security_patch

Keywords: kbhotfixserver kbqfe atdownload kbwinxpsp2fix kbenv kbwin2ksp4fix kbbug kbfix kbsecbulletin kbsecurity kbsecvulnerability kbwin2000presp4fix kbwinxppresp2fix KB329834

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