Data that is protected by user's private key can be accessed by a domain administrator who resets the user's password

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This article was previously published under Q320828

SYMPTOMS

When a domain administrator resets a user's password and then logs on to their Windows 2000-based computer with the reset password, the administrator can access the user's secured private e-mail and browser data. Additionally, if the computer is left unattended, anyone with access to the computer may also be able to see the user's private data.

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CAUSE

The Windows 2000 implementation of Microsoft Cryptography Service Providers (CSPs) permits users to store their decryption keys on their computers that are protected with their domain password.

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RESOLUTION

Windows 2000

Service pack information

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 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/260910/ ) How to obtain the latest Windows 2000 service pack

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows 2000 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, 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:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support (http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support)

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.

File information

The English version of this hotfix 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.

   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   09-May-2002  21:53  5.0.2195.5655     123,664  Adsldp.dll       
   09-May-2002  21:53  5.0.2195.5655     130,832  Adsldpc.dll      
   09-May-2002  21:53  5.0.2195.5725      62,736  Adsmsext.dll     
   09-May-2002  21:53  5.0.2195.5720     357,648  Advapi32.dll     
   09-May-2002  21:53  5.131.2195.5543   466,704  Crypt32.dll      
   09-May-2002  21:53  5.131.2195.5747   443,152  Cryptui.dll      
   09-May-2002  21:53  5.0.2195.5595     135,952  Dnsapi.dll       
   09-May-2002  21:53  5.0.2195.5595      96,016  Dnsrslvr.dll     
   08-May-2002  22:40  5.0.2195.5747     145,168  Dssbase.dll      
   08-May-2002  22:40  5.0.2195.5747     146,704  Dssenh.dll       
   09-May-2002  21:53  5.0.2195.5722      45,328  Eventlog.dll     
   09-May-2002  21:53  5.0.2195.5639     146,192  Kdcsvc.dll       
   22-Apr-2002  18:24  5.0.2195.5640     199,952  Kerberos.dll     
   02-May-2002  20:44  5.0.2195.5724      71,024  Ksecdd.sys
   07-May-2002  16:40  5.0.2195.5744     504,080  Lsasrv.dll       
   07-May-2002  16:40  5.0.2195.5744      33,552  Lsass.exe        
   07-Dec-2001  22:05  5.0.2195.4745     107,280  Msv1_0.dll       
   09-May-2002  21:53  5.0.2195.5626     306,960  Netapi32.dll     
   09-May-2002  21:53  5.0.2195.5723     360,208  Netlogon.dll     
   09-May-2002  21:53  5.0.2195.5719     916,752  Ntdsa.dll        
   09-May-2002  21:53  5.0.2195.5747     119,568  Psbase.dll       
   08-May-2002  22:40  5.0.2195.5747     132,368  Rsabase.dll      
   08-May-2002  22:40  5.0.2195.5747     134,416  Rsaenh.dll       
   09-May-2002  21:53  5.0.2195.5585     386,832  Samsrv.dll       
   09-May-2002  21:53  5.0.2195.5757     128,784  Scecli.dll       
   09-May-2002  21:53  5.0.2195.5757     299,792  Scesrv.dll       
   04-May-2002  18:34  5.0.2195.5736      62,464  Sp3res.dll

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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section. This problem was first corrected in Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4.

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MORE INFORMATION

After installing this hotfix, the administrator can set a policy enforce strong password protection on user's computer. After the policy has propagated, the user has to type a password when he or she first accesses the encryption key. The key is cached for subsequent uses until the end of a fixed time-out period. After the time-out period has expired, the key expires and the memory that held the key is cleared to subsequent recovery.

With the strong password protection feature, the domain administrator cannot gain access to a user's private information. The strong password protection feature prevents a separate password from accessing the user’s private decryption key.

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