MS01-044: Patch available for SSI privilege elevation vulnerability

In Internet Information Services (IIS) 5.0 and Internet Information Server (IIS) 4.0, a buffer overrun vulnerability exists that an attacker could exploit to gain complete control over an affected server and take any type of action on it. This vulnerability can only be exploited by code that is running on the server. As a result, the attacker would need to already have the ability to install software on the server in order to exploit the vulnerability. Best practices strongly recommend that you never allow an untrusted user to install software on a Web server.

This vulnerability occurs because the code that processes server-side include files contains an unchecked buffer. If a server-side file that contains a malformed server-side include directive is installed on an affected server, an attacker could cause the buffer to overflow the next time the file is requested by a user.

Internet Information Services 5.0

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows 2000. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: To resolve this problem, either obtain the hotfix referenced in this section or Windows 2000 Security Rollup Package 1 (SRP1). For more information about SRP1, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
NOTE: This patch can be installed on systems running Windows 2000 Service Pack 1 or Windows 2000 Service Pack 2.

Release Date: August 15, 2001

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 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 prevent any unauthorized changes to the file. The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

Internet Information Server 4.0

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 (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms01-044.mspx) 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:
Compaq Array Controller Users: If you have installed the Compaq Array Controller Driver (Cpqarray.sys) from the Compaq Web Site, Compaq FTP Site, or Compaq SmartStart, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base for information on how to resolve this problem: Note This patch can be installed on systems running Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 5 or Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6a.

Release Date: August 15, 2001

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 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 prevent any unauthorized changes to the file. The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

If you apply this security patch to a server that is running Exchange 5.5 with Outlook Web Access (OWA), all OWA clients receive a message that states that the client password will expire in 0 days.

To resolve this, follow these steps after you apply the patch:

1. Locate C:\Exchsrvr\Webdata\USA.
2. Create a copy of the Root.asp file (for backup purposes only).
3. Edit Root.asp.
4. Locate the following line:

   if cint(days) < 0 then days = 10000

5. Change the line to the following:

   if cint(days) < 1 then days = 10000

6. Save the file.
7. Stop the browser (that is, the OWA client).
8. Log on to OWA again.

Microsoft has confirmed that this problem may cause a degree of security vulnerability in Internet Information Services 5.0 and Internet Information Server 4.0. This problem was first corrected in Windows 2000 Service Pack 3.

This patch also contains fixes for the problems described in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article: For more information on this vulnerability, see the following Microsoft Web site: For more information about how to obtain a hotfix for Windows 2000 Datacenter Server, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about how to install multiple hotfixes with only one reboot, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: