Microsoft Security Bulletin MS14-047 - Important

  • Article
  • 15 minutes to read

Vulnerability in LRPC Could Allow Security Feature Bypass (2978668)

Published: August 12, 2014

Version: 1.0

General Information

Executive Summary

This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. The vulnerability could allow security feature bypass if an attacker uses the vulnerability in conjunction with another vulnerability, such as a remote code execution vulnerability, that takes advantage of the ASLR bypass to run arbitrary code.

This security update is rated Important for all supported editions of Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows RT, and Windows RT 8.1. For more information, see the Affected and Non-Affected Software section.

The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how RPC handles the freeing of malformed messages. For more information about the vulnerability, see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) subsection for the specific vulnerability later in this bulletin.

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. For information about specific configuration options in automatic updating, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 294871. For customers who do not have automatic updating enabled, the steps in Turn automatic updating on or off can be used to enable automatic updating.

For administrators and enterprise installations, or end users who want to install this security update manually (including customers who have not enabled automatic updating), 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. The updates are also available via the download links in the Affected Software table later in this bulletin.

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

Knowledge Base Article

  • Knowledge Base Article: 2978668
  • File Information: Yes
  • SHA1/SHA2 hashes: Yes
  • Known issues: None

 

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 

**Operating System** **Maximum Security Impact** **Aggregate Severity Rating** **Updates Replaced**
**Windows 7**
[Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=f142e0b9-d289-4341-98b5-67c031c68180) (2978668) Security Feature Bypass Important 2849470 in [MS13-062](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=309337)
[Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=d8109881-1dd4-4de0-b45d-0d859787373e) (2978668) Security Feature Bypass Important 2849470 in [MS13-062](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=309337)
**Windows Server 2008 R2**
[Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=5b94058e-6dd9-4f4b-bf85-661650fe0e8f) (2978668) Security Feature Bypass Important 2849470 in [MS13-062](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=309337)
[Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 1](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=f3f1e6c2-23c6-4663-981a-fed9091736ab) (2978668) Security Feature Bypass Important 2849470 in [MS13-062](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=309337)
**Windows 8 and Windows 8.1**
[Windows 8 for 32-bit Systems](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=a0989907-ca6f-45fa-bdaa-c99682fb8abd) (2978668) Security Feature Bypass Important 2849470 in [MS13-062](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=309337)
[Windows 8 for x64-based Systems](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=3478695d-af48-43cb-872d-71ca9d09d000) (2978668) Security Feature Bypass Important 2849470 in [MS13-062](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=309337)
[Windows 8.1 for 32-bit Systems](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=99125964-e3d0-4619-b106-7cec9e71178b)[1] (2978668) Security Feature Bypass Important None
[Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=5a4d58eb-b0c2-4c98-a15c-850e4bf51dd7)[1] (2978668) Security Feature Bypass Important None
**Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2**
[Windows Server 2012](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=7c963fba-9c6e-4443-af48-e3da765b6964) (2978668) Security Feature Bypass Important 2849470 in [MS13-062](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=309337)
[Windows Server 2012 R2](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=6bf31270-1fa8-4ce2-8c87-dff587044410)[1] (2978668) Security Feature Bypass Important None
**Windows RT and Windows RT 8.1**
Windows RT[2] (2978668) Security Feature Bypass Important 2849470 in [MS13-062](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=309337)
Windows RT 8.1[1][2] (2978668) Security Feature Bypass Important None
**Server Core installation option**
[Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=5b94058e-6dd9-4f4b-bf85-661650fe0e8f) (Server Core installation) (2978668) Security Feature Bypass Important 2849470 in [MS13-062](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=309337)
[Windows Server 2012](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=7c963fba-9c6e-4443-af48-e3da765b6964) (Server Core installation) (2978668) Security Feature Bypass Important 2849470 in [MS13-062](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=309337)
[Windows Server 2012 R2](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=6bf31270-1fa8-4ce2-8c87-dff587044410)[1] (Server Core installation) (2978668) Security Feature Bypass Important None
[1]This update is for systems that have the 2919355 update installed. See the **Update FAQ** for more information.

[2]This update is available via Windows Update.

 

Non-Affected Software

Operating System
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2
Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems
Windows Vista Service Pack 2
Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2
Server Core installation option
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)
  Update FAQ ---------- **I am running Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, or Windows RT 8.1. Why am I not being offered this update?** To be offered any security updates on Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, or Windows RT 8.1, the 2919355 update must be installed on the system. For more information, see [Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2919355](https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2919355). For Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, and Windows RT 8.1 are there any prerequisites for this update? Yes. Customers running Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, or Windows RT 8.1 must first install the 2919355 update released in April, 2014 before this update can be installed. For more information about the prerequisite update, see [Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2919355](https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2919355). **I am using an older release of the software discussed in this security bulletin. What should I do?**  The affected software listed in this bulletin has been tested to determine which releases are affected. Other releases are past their support life cycle. For more information about the product lifecycle, see the [Microsoft Support Lifecycle](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=21742) website. It should be a priority for customers who have older releases of the software to migrate to supported releases to prevent potential exposure to vulnerabilities. To determine the support lifecycle for your software release, see [Select a Product for Lifecycle Information](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=169555). For more information about service packs for these software releases, see [Service Pack Lifecycle Support Policy](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=89213). Customers who require custom support for older software must contact their Microsoft account team representative, their Technical Account Manager, or the appropriate Microsoft partner representative for custom support options. Customers without an Alliance, Premier, or Authorized Contract can contact their local Microsoft sales office. For contact information, see the [Microsoft Worldwide Information](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=33329) website, select the country in the Contact Information list, and then click **Go** to see a list of telephone numbers. When you call, ask to speak with the local Premier Support sales manager. For more information, see the [Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=169557). Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers ---------------------------------------------- The following severity ratings assume the potential maximum impact of the vulnerability. For information regarding the likelihood, within 30 days of this security bulletin's release, of the exploitability of the vulnerability in relation to its severity rating and security impact, please see the Exploitability Index in the [August bulletin summary](https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/ms14-aug). For more information, see [Microsoft Exploitability Index](http://technet.microsoft.com/security/cc998259).

**Vulnerability Severity Rating and Maximum Security Impact by Affected Software**
**Affected Software** **LRPC ASLR Bypass Vulnerability - CVE-2014-0316** **Aggregate Severity Rating**
**Windows 7**
Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 (2978668) **Important**  Security Feature Bypass **Important**
Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (2978668) **Important**  Security Feature Bypass **Important**
**Windows Server 2008 R2**
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (2978668) **Important**  Security Feature Bypass **Important**
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) (2978668) **Important**  Security Feature Bypass **Important**
Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 1 (2978668) **Important**  Security Feature Bypass **Important**
**Windows 8 and Windows 8.1**
Windows 8 for 32-bit Systems (2978668) **Important**  Security Feature Bypass **Important**
Windows 8 for x64-based Systems (2978668) **Important**  Security Feature Bypass **Important**
Windows 8.1 for 32-bit Systems (2978668) **Important**  Security Feature Bypass **Important**
Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems (2978668) **Important**  Security Feature Bypass **Important**
**Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2**
Windows Server 2012 (2978668) **Important**  Security Feature Bypass **Important**
Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) (2978668) **Important**  Security Feature Bypass **Important**
Windows Server 2012 R2 (2978668) **Important**  Security Feature Bypass **Important**
Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) (2978668) **Important**  Security Feature Bypass **Important**
**Windows RT and Windows RT 8.1**
Windows RT[1] (2978668) **Important**  Security Feature Bypass **Important**
Windows RT 8.1[1] (2978668) **Important**  Security Feature Bypass **Important**
 

LRPC ASLR Bypass Vulnerability - CVE-2014-0316

A security feature bypass vulnerability exists in Microsoft Remote Procedure Call (LRPC). The problem is that an LRPC server may leak the message it receives from the client if the message is of a specific type and has a data view attached (which is not expected for messages of the type). RPC considers this an error and returns, but does not free the message. This allows the client to fill up the address space of the server with such messages.

To view this vulnerability as a standard entry in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures list, see CVE-2014-0316.

Mitigating Factors

Microsoft has not identified any mitigating factors for this vulnerability.

Workarounds

Microsoft has not identified any workarounds for this vulnerability.

FAQ

What is the scope of the vulnerability?
This is a security feature bypass vulnerability.

What causes the vulnerability?
The vulnerability is caused when RPC improperly frees messages that the server rejects as malformed, allowing an attacker to fill up the address space of a process.

What is the component affected by the vulnerability?
The component affected by the vulnerability is Local RPC (LRPC), a component of Microsoft Remote Procedure Call (RPC).

What is Remote Procedure Call (RPC)?
Microsoft Remote Procedure Call (RPC) is an interprocess communications (IPC) mechanism that enables data exchange and invocation of functionality residing in a different process. That process can be on the same computer, on the local area network (LAN), or across the Internet. The Microsoft RPC mechanism uses other IPC mechanisms, such as named pipes, NetBIOS, or Winsock, to establish communications between the client and the server. With RPC, essential program logic and related procedure code can exist on different computers, which is important for distributed applications. For more information, see What Is RPC?

What is LRPC?
Local RPC (LRPC) is a component of Microsoft RPC. LRPC internally uses LPC as the transport mechanism for passing messages between the two processes.

What are Interprocess Communications (IPC)?
Microsoft Windows operating systems provide mechanisms for facilitating communications and data sharing between applications. Collectively, the activities enabled by these mechanisms are called interprocess communications (IPC). Some forms of IPC facilitate the division of labor among several specialized processes. Other forms of IPC facilitate the division of labor among computers on a network. For more information, see Interprocess Communications.

What might an attacker use the vulnerability to do?
In a web-browsing attack scenario, an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could bypass the ASLR security feature, which protects users from a broad class of vulnerabilities. The security feature bypass by itself does not allow arbitrary code execution. However, an attacker could use this ASLR bypass vulnerability in conjunction with another vulnerability, such as a remote code execution vulnerability that could take advantage of the ASLR bypass to run arbitrary code.

How could an attacker exploit the vulnerability?
An attacker could tie this security feature bypass vulnerability to an additional vulnerability, usually a remote code execution vulnerability. The additional vulnerability would take advantage of the security feature bypass for exploitation. For example, a remote code execution vulnerability that is blocked by ASLR, could be exploited after a successful ASLR bypass.

What systems are primarily at risk from the vulnerability?
Both workstations and servers are at risk from this vulnerability.

What does the update do?
The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how RPC handles the freeing of malformed messages.

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 had 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 7 (all editions)

Reference Table

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

Security update file name For all supported 32-bit editions of Windows 7:
Windows6.1-KB2978668-x86.msu

For all supported x64-based editions of Windows 7:
Windows6.1-KB2978668-x64.msu
Installation switches See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 934307
Restart requirement Yes, you must restart your system after you apply this security update.
Removal information To uninstall an update installed by WUSA, use the /Uninstall setup switch or click Control Panel, click System and Security, and then under Windows Update, click View installed updates and select from the list of updates.
File information See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2978668
Registry key verification Note A registry key does not exist to validate the presence of this update.
  ### Windows Server 2008 R2 (all editions) **Reference Table** The following table contains the security update information for this software.

Security update file name For all supported x64-based editions of Windows Server 2008 R2:
Windows6.1-KB2978668-x64.msu

For all supported Itanium-based editions of Windows Server 2008 R2:
Windows6.1-KB2978668-ia64.msu
Installation switches See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 934307
Restart requirement Yes, you must restart your system after you apply this security update.
Removal information To uninstall an update installed by WUSA, use the /Uninstall setup switch or click Control Panel, click System and Security, and then under Windows Update, click View installed updates and select from the list of updates.
File information See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2978668
Registry key verification Note A registry key does not exist to validate the presence of this update.
  ### Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 (all editions) **Reference Table** The following table contains the security update information for this software.

Security update file name For all supported 32-bit editions of Windows 8:
Windows8-RT-KB2978668-x86.msu

For all supported x64-based editions of Windows 8:
Windows8-RT-KB2978668-x64.msu

For all supported 32-bit editions of Windows 8.1:
Windows8.1-KB2978668-x86.msu

For all supported x64-based editions of Windows 8.1:
Windows8.1-KB2978668-x64.msu
Installation switches See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 934307
Restart requirement Yes, you must restart your system after you apply this security update.
Removal information To uninstall an update installed by WUSA, use the /Uninstall setup switch or click Control Panel, click System and Security, click Windows Update, and then under See also, click Installed updates and select from the list of updates.
File information See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2978668
Registry key verification Note A registry key does not exist to validate the presence of this update.
  ### Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 (all editions) **Reference Table** The following table contains the security update information for this software.

Security update file name For all supported editions of Windows Server 2012:
Windows8-RT-KB2978668-x64.msu

For all supported editions of Windows Server 2012 R2:
Windows8.1-KB2978668-x64.msu
Installation switches See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 934307
Restart requirement Yes, you must restart your system after you apply this security update.
Removal information To uninstall an update installed by WUSA, use the /Uninstall setup switch or click Control Panel, click System and Security, click Windows Update, and then under See also, click Installed updates and select from the list of updates.
File information See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2978668
Registry key verification Note A registry key does not exist to validate the presence of this update.
  ### Windows RT and Windows RT 8.1 (all editions) **Reference Table** The following table contains the security update information for this software.

Deployment These updates are available via Windows Update only.
Restart Requirement Yes, you must restart your system after you apply this security update.
Removal Information Click Control Panel, click System and Security, click Windows Update, and then under See also, click Installed updates and select from the list of updates.
File Information See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2978668
  Acknowledgments --------------- Microsoft [thanks](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=21127) the following for working with us to help protect customers: - [Alex Ionescu](http://www.alex-ionescu.com/) for reporting the LRPC ASLR Bypass Vulnerability (CVE-2014-0316) Other Information ----------------- ### Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP) To improve security protections for customers, Microsoft provides vulnerability information to major security software providers in advance of each monthly security update release. Security software providers can then use this vulnerability information to provide updated protections to customers via their security software or devices, such as antivirus, network-based intrusion detection systems, or host-based intrusion prevention systems. To determine whether active protections are available from security software providers, please go to the active protections websites provided by program partners, listed in [Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP) Partners](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=215201). ### Support **How to obtain help and support for this security update** - Help installing updates: [Support for Microsoft Update](http://support.microsoft.com/ph/6527) - Security solutions for IT professionals: [TechNet Security Troubleshooting and Support](http://technet.microsoft.com/security/bb980617.aspx) - Help protect your computer that is running Windows from viruses and malware: [Virus Solution and Security Center](http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/cu_sc_virsec_master) - Local support according to your country: [International Support](http://support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx) ### Disclaimer The information provided in the Microsoft Knowledge Base is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Microsoft disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event shall Microsoft Corporation or its suppliers be liable for any damages whatsoever including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, loss of business profits or special damages, even if Microsoft Corporation or its suppliers have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages so the foregoing limitation may not apply. ### Revisions - V1.0 (August 12, 2014): Bulletin published. *Page generated 2014-08-06 11:25Z-07:00.*