MS01-043: NNTP Service in Windows 2000 Contains a Memory Leak (303984)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP1
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP2
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP1
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP2
This article was previously published under Q303984

For additional information about a similar problem that may occur in Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

304876 NNTP Service in Windows NT 4.0 Contains Memory Leak

SYMPTOMS

The Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP) service in Windows 2000 contains a memory leak in a routine that processes news postings. Each time a posting that contains a particular construction is processed, the memory leak causes a small amount of memory to no longer be available for use. If an attacker were to send a large number of posts, the server memory could be depleted to the point that normal service would be disrupted. An affected server could be restored to normal service by rebooting the server.

Mitigating Factors

  • The default configuration of NNTP is not affected by this vulnerability because no newsgroups are configured by default.
  • This vulnerability would not enable an attacker to usurp any administrative control or compromise data on the computer.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for 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

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

DownloadDownload Q303984_w2k_sp3_x86_en.exe now

Release Date: August 14, 2001

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. The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later: 
   Date         Time   Version        Size     File name
   -------------------------------------------------------
   18-Jul-2001  13:28  5.0.2195.3881  610,576  Nntpsvc.dll

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this problem may cause a degree of security vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 2000. This problem was first corrected in Windows 2000 Service Pack 3.

MORE INFORMATION

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

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-043.mspx

For additional information about how to obtain a hotfix for Windows 2000 Datacenter Server, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

265173 The Datacenter Program and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server Product

For additional information about how to install multiple hotfixes with only one reboot, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

296861 Use QChain.exe to Install Multiple Hotfixes with One Reboot

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/21/2004
Keywords:kbbug kbfix KbSECBulletin kbSecurity kbSysAdmin kbWin2000PreSP3Fix kbWin2000sp3fix KB303984
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