Windows 2000 Still Image Service Exposes User Elevation Vulnerability

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This article was previously published under Q272736

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SYMPTOMS

The Still Image service that is included with Windows 2000 exposes a vulnerability that could enable a standard user to escalate his or her local privilege level to System. A malicious user could use this vulnerability to potentially cause damage.

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CAUSE

The Still Image service creates a window on the logged-on user's desktop that responds to a number of WM_USER messages by using the Post Message call. The window procedure is located in the service process, and can be controlled to some extent by the logged-on user. Also, there is a buffer overflow condition in one of the WM_USER messages.

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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 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/260910/EN-US/ ) How to Obtain the Latest Windows 2000 Service Pack

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
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 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/119591/EN-US/ ) 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
   ---------------------------------------------------
   8/30/00  10:11PM  5.0.2195.2104  61,712  Stisvc.exe

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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows 2000. This problem was first corrected in Windows 2000 Service Pack 2.

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MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about this vulnerability, see the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS00-065.mspx (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS00-065.mspx)

The Still Image service is not installed or started by default in Windows 2000. The service is added and started automatically if you add a scanner or camera in the Add/Remove Hardware Wizard.

For additional information about how to install Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 hotfixes at the same time, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

249149 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/249149/EN-US/ ) Installing Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 Hotfixes

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