For additional information about a similar
problem that may occur in Microsoft Windows 2000, click the following article
number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
303984 NNTP Service in Windows 2000 Contains Memory Leak
SYMPTOMS
The Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP) service in
Windows NT 4.0 contains a memory leak in a routine that processes news
postings. Each time such a posting is processed that contains a particular
construction, the memory leak causes a small amount of memory to no longer be
available for use. If an attacker sent a large number of posts, the server
memory could be depleted to the point at which normal service would be
disrupted. An affected server could be restored to normal service by
rebooting.
Mitigating Factors:
- Windows NT 4.0 does not contain a native NNTP service. NNTP
is only available on the system if the Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack has been
installed.
- The default configuration of NNTP is not affected by this
vulnerability, as 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
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that you determine are at risk of attack. Evaluate the computer's physical accessibility, network and Internet connectivity, and other factors to determine the degree of risk to the computer. See the associated
Microsoft Security Bulletin to help determine the degree of risk. This hotfix may receive additional testing. If the computer is sufficiently at risk, we recommend that you apply this hotfix now.
To resolve this problem immediately, download the hotfix by following the instructions later in this article or contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
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. The following file is available for
download from the Microsoft Download Center:
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
-----------------------------------------------------
27-Jul-2001 12:39 5.5.1877.77 761,616 Nntpsvc.dll
