When you modify the "\??" object folder's symbolic link table by substituting a different case (upper versus lower) letter in the table to point to a different device associated with a disk drive alias, it may be possible to bypass typical Windows NT security and allow any user to acquire administrator privileges.

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To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or the individual software update. For information on obtaining the latest service pack, please go to:

•	http://www.microsoft.com/windows/servicepacks/ (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/servicepacks/) -or-
•	152734 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/152734/EN-US/) how to obtain the latest windows nt 4.0 service pack

For information on obtaining the individual software update, contact Microsoft Product Support Services. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:


Once you have installed the Windows NT 4.0 service pack, it is necessary to enable base system object restrictions to prevent the use of this security exploit. To do this:

1.	Click Start, click Run, type regedt32, and then click OK.
2.	On the Windows menu, click HKEY_LOCAL_ MACHINE on Local Machine.
3.	Double-click the \System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager folder.
4.	Double-click the ProtectionMode value, type 1, and then click OK.
5.	Quit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.

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Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 5.

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