Title: NT DoS Duplicate Hostname Vulnerability
Severity: MODERATE
Description:
NT Workstations and Servers must have unique hostnames if they reside on the same network. Should an NT host attempt to use an existing hostname, the second server (with the new duplicate name) will fail to start its workstation and server services. (Once the name has been changed to a unique value and has been rebooted, the host will operate normally).
Should an NT host claim the hostname of a "victim" NT host while that host is turned off, the "victim" host will be subject to a Denial of Service-like attack because the workstation and server services will fail to start. NT hosts are usually prevented from taking duplicate names within one domain they must register their existence with an NT Domain Controller when initially joining the domain. (This registration process must be performed by someone with administrator privileges.)
A situation has been noted wherein a Win95 host may register the victim hostname (with a WINS server) by setting the Win95 workgroup name equal to the victim's hostname. The next time the victim host is rebooted, it will fail to start the workstation and server services as the WINS server will report that the hostname is claimed by the Win95 host.
Affected Products:
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP1
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP2
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP3
- Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0
- Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP1
- Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP2
- Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP3
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP1
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP2
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP3
- Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0
- Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP1
- Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP2
- Microsoft Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0 SP3
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP1
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP2
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP3
References:
- Carl Byington <carl@FIVE-TEN-SG.COM>: denial of service attack against NT PDC from Win95 workstation
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