Microsoft Security Bulletin MS14-028 - Important

• 10/11/2017
• 17 minutes to read
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Vulnerabilities in iSCSI Could Allow Denial of Service (2962485)

Published: May 13, 2014 | Updated: September 3, 2014

Version: 1.1

General Information

Executive Summary

This security update resolves two privately reported vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows. The vulnerabilities could allow denial of service if an attacker sends large amounts of specially crafted iSCSI packets over the target network. This vulnerability only affects servers for which the iSCSI target role has been enabled.

This security update is rated Important for Windows Storage Server 2008 and all supported editions of Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2. It is also rated Important for iSCSI Software Target 3.3 when installed on Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1. For more information, see the subsection, Affected and Non-Affected Software, in this section.

The security update addresses the vulnerabilities by modifying how the affected operating systems handle iSCSI connections. For more information about the vulnerabilities, see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) subsection for the specific vulnerability entry under the next section, Vulnerability Information.

Recommendation. Most customers have automatic updating enabled and will not need to take any action because this security update will be downloaded and installed automatically. Customers who have not enabled automatic updating need to check for updates and install this update manually. For information about specific configuration options in automatic updating, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 294871.

For administrators and enterprise installations, or end users who want to install this security update manually, Microsoft recommends that customers apply the update at the earliest opportunity using update management software, or by checking for updates using the Microsoft Update service.

See also the section, Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance, later in this bulletin.

Knowledge Base Article

• Knowledge Base Article: 2962485
• File Information: Yes
• SHA1/SHA2 hashes: Yes
• Known issues: Yes

Affected and Non-Affected Software

The following software has been tested to determine which versions or editions are affected. Other versions or editions are either past their support life cycle or are not affected. To determine the support life cycle for your software version or edition, see Microsoft Support Lifecycle.

Affected Software

Non-Affected Software

iSCSI Target Remote Denial of Service Vulnerability - CVE-2014-0255

A denial of service vulnerability exists in the way that affected operating systems handle iSCSI packets. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could cause the affected service or services to stop responding.

To view this vulnerability as a standard entry in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures list, see CVE-2014-0255.

Mitigating Factors

Mitigation refers to a setting, common configuration, or general best-practice, existing in a default state, that could reduce the severity of exploitation of a vulnerability. The following mitigating factors may be helpful in your situation:

• This vulnerability only affects servers for which the iSCSI target role has been enabled.

Workarounds

Workaround refers to a setting or configuration change that does not correct the underlying vulnerability but would help block known attack vectors before you apply the update. Microsoft has tested the following workarounds and states in the discussion whether a workaround reduces functionality:

• Limit the attack surface from untrusted networks by placing iSCSI on its own isolated network, separate from any network on which internet traffic flows. For more detail on how to set up iSCSI securely, see Installing and Configuring Microsoft iSCSI Initiator.
• Configure your firewall to restrict access to TCP port 3260 to authorized iSCSI client IP addresses.

FAQ

What is the scope of the vulnerability?
This is a denial of service vulnerability.

What causes the vulnerability?
The affected service improperly manages iSCSI packets. The vulnerability is caused when an attacker sends large amounts of specially crafted iSCSI packets over a target network. This attack can cause denial of service on any systems running the iSCSI service on the target network.

What is iSCSI?
Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI) is a protocol that supports access to storage devices over a TCP/IP network, which facilitates storage consolidation and sharing of storage resources across an organization.

What might an attacker use the vulnerability to do?
An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could cause the affected service or services to stop responding.

How could an attacker exploit the vulnerability?
An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by creating a large number of specially crafted iSCSI packets and sending the packets to affected systems over a network. The packets could then cause the affected services to stop responding.

What systems are primarily at risk from the vulnerability?
Servers that are running the iSCSI target service are at risk from this vulnerability.

What does the update do?
The update addresses the vulnerability by modifying how the affected operating systems handle iSCSI connections.

When this security bulletin was issued, had this vulnerability been publicly disclosed?
No. Microsoft received information about this vulnerability through coordinated vulnerability disclosure.

When this security bulletin was issued, had Microsoft received any reports that this vulnerability was being exploited?
No. Microsoft had not received any information to indicate that this vulnerability has been publicly used to attack customers when this security bulletin was originally issued.

iSCSI Target Remote Denial of Service Vulnerability - CVE-2014-0256

A denial of service vulnerability exists in the way that affected operating systems handle iSCSI connections. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could cause the affected service or services to stop responding.

To view this vulnerability as a standard entry in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures list, see CVE-2014-0256.

Mitigating Factors

Mitigation refers to a setting, common configuration, or general best-practice, existing in a default state, that could reduce the severity of exploitation of a vulnerability. The following mitigating factors may be helpful in your situation:

• This vulnerability only affects servers for which the iSCSI target role has been enabled.

Workarounds

Workaround refers to a setting or configuration change that does not correct the underlying vulnerability but would help block known attack vectors before you apply the update. Microsoft has tested the following workarounds and states in the discussion whether a workaround reduces functionality:

• Limit the attack surface from untrusted networks by placing iSCSI on its own isolated network, separate from any network on which internet traffic flows. For more detail on how to set up iSCSI securely, see Installing and Configuring Microsoft iSCSI Initiator.
• Configure your firewall to restrict access to TCP port 3260 to authorized iSCSI client IP addresses.

FAQ

What is the scope of the vulnerability?
This is a denial of service vulnerability.

What causes the vulnerability?
The affected service improperly manages iSCSI packets. The vulnerability is caused when an attacker sends large amounts of specially crafted iSCSI packets over a target network. This attack can cause denial of service on any systems running the iSCSI service on the target network.

What is iSCSI?
Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI) is a protocol that supports access to storage devices over a TCP/IP network, which facilitates storage consolidation and sharing of storage resources across an organization.

What might an attacker use the vulnerability to do?
An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could cause the affected service or services to stop responding.

How could an attacker exploit the vulnerability?
An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by creating a large number of specially crafted iSCSI packets and sending the packets to affected systems over a network. The packets could then cause the affected services to stop responding.

What systems are primarily at risk from the vulnerability?
Servers that are running the iSCSI target service are at risk from this vulnerability.

What does the update do?
The update addresses the vulnerability by modifying how the affected operating systems handle iSCSI connections.

When this security bulletin was issued, had this vulnerability been publicly disclosed?
No. Microsoft received information about this vulnerability through coordinated vulnerability disclosure.

When this security bulletin was issued, had Microsoft received any reports that this vulnerability was being exploited?
No. Microsoft had not received any information to indicate that this vulnerability has been publicly used to attack customers when this security bulletin was originally issued.

Detection and Deployment Tools and Guidance

Several resources are available to help administrators deploy security updates. 

• Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) lets administrators scan local and remote systems for missing security updates and common security misconfigurations. 
• Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), Systems Management Server (SMS), and System Center Configuration Manager help administrators distribute security updates. 
• The Update Compatibility Evaluator components included with Application Compatibility Toolkit aid in streamlining the testing and validation of Windows updates against installed applications. 

For information about these and other tools that are available, see Security Tools for IT Pros. 

Security Update Deployment

Windows Server 2008 R2 (all editions)

Reference Table

The following table contains the security update information for this software.