Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS00-095)
   
   Tool Available for Registry Permissions Vulnerability
   
   Originally posted: December 06, 2000
   
Summary

   Microsoft has released a tool that corrects the permissions on several registry values in Microsoft® Windows NT® 4.0.
   The default permissions could allow a malicious user to gain additional privileges on an affected machine.
   
   Frequently asked questions regarding this vulnerability and the patch can be found at
   http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/fq00-095.asp
   
Issue

   Three registry keys have default permissions that are inappropriately loose. The keys, and the risk they pose, are as
   follows:
     * The SNMP Parameters key, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SNMP\Parameters, provides the SNMP
       community name and SNMP management station identifiers, if they exist. Reading this information would enable a
       malicious user to pose as a bona fide SNMP manager for any community the affected machine belonged to. (In
       actuality, though, the same information could be obtained by monitoring network traffic). Changing this information
       would enable her to create a community consisting solely of her local machine, as a way of gaining management
       privileges on it. SNMP is not installed on Windows NT 4.0 machines by default.
     * The RAS Administration key, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\RAS, provides a way to install third-party RAS
       products that work with the Windows NT native RAS service. By changing one of the values in this key, it would be
       possible for a malicious user to specify code of her choice as a third-party management tool. The code would then
       run in the LocalSystem security context. Although it might be possible to make the needed registry changes
       remotely, the malicious users code would need to reside on the affected machine itself. RAS is not installed on
       Windows NT 4.0 machines by default.
     * The MTS Package Administration key, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Transaction Server\Packages, includes
       information about which users are allowed to install and change MTS packages. By adding herself as an MTS manager,
       a malicious user could gain the ability to add, delete or change MTS packages. Although it might be possible in
       some cases to make the needed registry changes remotely, the malicious user would still need the ability to log
       onto the affected machine interactively in order to exercise her new privileges. MTS is not installed on Windows NT
       4.0 machines by default.
       
   In addition to correcting the permissions on these keys, the tool also changes the permissions on several other keys
   that have previously been discussed. Specifically, the tool makes all the changes discussed in Microsoft Security
   Bulletins MS00-008 and MS00-024.
   
Affected Software Versions

     * Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
     * Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Server
     * Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Server, Enterprise Edition
     * Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Server, Terminal Server Edition
       
Patch Availability

   http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/Release.asp?ReleaseID=24501
       
   Note: The version of the tool in this bulletin also includes all changes discussed in Security Bulletins MS00-008 and
   MS00-024.
   
   Note: This tool may be run on machines running Windows NT 4.0 Service Packs 5 and 6a.
   
   Note Additional security patches are available at the Microsoft Download Center 
   
More Information

   Please see the following references for more information related to this issue.
     * Frequently Asked Questions: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS00-095,
       http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/fq00-095.asp
     * Microsoft Security Bulletin MS00-008,
       http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms00-008.asp
     * Microsoft Security Bulletin MS00-024, http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms00-024.
     * Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q265714 discusses the "SNMP Parameters" vulnerability and will be available soon.
     * Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q267861 discusses the "RAS Administration" vulnerability and will be available
       soon.
     * Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q267864 discusses the "MTS Package Administration" vulnerability and will be
       available soon.
       
     Microsoft TechNet Security web site, http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/default.asp
   
Obtaining Support on this Issue

   This is a fully supported patch. Information on contacting Microsoft Product Support Services is available at
   http://support.microsoft.com/support/contact/default.asp.
   
Acknowledgments

   Microsoft thanks  the following people for working with us to protect customers:
     * Chris Anley of @stake for reporting the SNMP Parameters vulnerability.
     * Milan Dadok for reporting the "RAS Administration" vulnerability.
     * Glenn Larsson for reporting the MTS Package Administrator vulnerability.
       
Revisions

     * December 06, 2000: Bulletin Created.
       
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     Last updated December 6, 2000
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