Security Bulletin

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS13-079 - Important

Vulnerability in Active Directory Could Allow Denial of Service (2853587)

Published: September 10, 2013

Version: 1.0

General Information

Executive Summary

This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Active Directory. The vulnerability could allow denial of service if an attacker sends a specially crafted query to the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) service.

This security update is rated Important for Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS) and Active Directory Services where affected on Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2012.

The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how the LDAP directory service handles specially crafted LDAP queries. For more information about the vulnerability, 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 2853587
File information Yes
SHA1/SHA2 hashes Yes
Known issues None

Affected and Non-Affected Software

The following software have 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 Component Maximum Security Impact Aggregate Severity Rating Updates Replaced
Windows Vista
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS) (2853587) Denial of Service Important None
Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2 Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS) (2853587) Denial of Service Important None
Windows Server 2008
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 Active Directory Services and Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS) (2853587) Denial of Service Important None
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 Active Directory Services and Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS) (2853587) Denial of Service Important None
Windows 7
Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS) (2853587) Denial of Service Important None
Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS) (2853587) Denial of Service Important None
Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 Active Directory Services and Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS) (2853587) Denial of Service Important None
Windows 8
Windows 8 for 32-bit Systems Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS) (2853587) Denial of Service Important None
Windows 8 for 64-bit Systems Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS) (2853587) Denial of Service Important None
Windows Server 2012
Windows Server 2012 Active Directory Services and Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS) (2853587) Denial of Service Important None
Server Core installation option
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) Active Directory Services and Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS) (2853587) Denial of Service Important None
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) Active Directory Services and Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS) (2853587) Denial of Service Important None
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) Active Directory Services and Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS) (2853587) Denial of Service Important None
Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) Active Directory Services and Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS) (2853587) Denial of Service Important None

Non-Affected Software

Operating System
Windows XP Service Pack 3
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2
Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2[1]
Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems[1]
Windows RT[1]
Windows 8.1 for 32-bit Systems
Windows 8.1 for 64-bit Systems
Windows Server 2012 R2
Windows RT 8.1[1]
Server Core installation option
Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)

[1]These editions of Microsoft Windows are not affected because they do not include ADAM, AD LDS, Active Directory, or Active Directory Services.

Update FAQ

I am running one of the operating systems that is listed in the affected software table. Why am I not being offered the update?
The update will only be offered to systems on which the affected component is installed.

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 have 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 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. For more information about service packs for these software releases, see Service Pack Lifecycle Support Policy.

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 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.

Vulnerability Information

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 September bulletin summary. For more information, see Microsoft Exploitability Index.

Affected Software Remote Anonymous DoS Vulnerability - CVE-2013-3868 Aggregate Severity Rating
Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS)
AD LDS on Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Important Denial of Service Important
AD LDS on Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2 Important Denial of Service Important
AD LDS on Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 Important Denial of Service Important
AD LDS on Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) Important Denial of Service Important
AD LDS on Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 Important Denial of Service Important
AD LDS on Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) Important Denial of Service Important
AD LDS on Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 Important Denial of Service Important
AD LDS on Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 Important Denial of Service Important
AD LDS on Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 Important Denial of Service Important
AD LDS on Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) Important Denial of Service Important
AD LDS on Windows 8 for 32-bit Systems Important Denial of Service Important
AD LDS on Windows 8 for 64-bit Systems Important Denial of Service Important
Active Directory Services
Active Directory Services on Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 Important Denial of Service Important
Active Directory Services on Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) Important Denial of Service Important
Active Directory Services on Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 Important Denial of Service Important
Active Directory Services Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) Important Denial of Service Important
Active Directory Services on Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 Important Denial of Service Important
Active Directory Services on Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) Important Denial of Service Important
Active Directory Services on Windows Server 2012 Important Denial of Service Important
Active Directory Services on Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) Important Denial of Service Important

Remote Anonymous DoS Vulnerability - CVE-2013-3868

A denial of service vulnerability exists in implementations of Active Directory Services and AD LDS that could cause the LDAP directory service to stop responding until an administrator restarts the service. The vulnerability is caused when the LDAP directory service fails to handle a specially crafted query.

To view this vulnerability as a standard entry in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures list, see CVE-2013-3868.

Mitigating Factors

Microsoft has not identified any mitigations for this vulnerability.

Workarounds

Microsoft has not identified any workarounds for this vulnerability.

FAQ

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

What causes the vulnerability?
The vulnerability is caused when the LDAP directory service fails to properly handle a specially crafted LDAP query.

What is Active Directory?
Active Directory is a Windows component that provides central authentication and authorization services for Windows-based systems.

What is Active Directory Services?
Active Directory Services contains an extensible and scalable set of services that enables you to efficiently manage corporate identities, credentials, information protection, and system and application settings. Active Directory Services include Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS), Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS), Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS), and Active Directory Rights Management Services (AD RMS).

What is Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS)?
Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS) is an independent mode of Active Directory that provides dedicated directory services for applications. AD LDS is available for Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2. AD LDS replaces Active Directory Application Mode (ADAM), which is available for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. For more information on AD LDS, see Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service.

What might an attacker use the vulnerability to do?
An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could cause the LDAP directory service to become non-responsive until an administrator restarts the service.

How could an attacker exploit the vulnerability?
An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted query to the LDAP directory service.

What systems are primarily at risk from the vulnerability?
Servers are primarily at risk from this vulnerability.

What does the update do?
The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how the LDAP directory service handles specially crafted LDAP queries.

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.

Update Information

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

Affected Software

For information about the specific security update for your affected software, click the appropriate link:

Windows Vista (all editions)

Reference Table

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

Security update file names For all supported 32-bit editions of Windows Vista with AD LDS:\ Windows6.0-KB2853587-x86.msu
For all supported x64-based editions of Windows Vista with AD LDS:\ Windows6.0-KB2853587-x64.msu
Installation switches See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 934307
Restart requirement In some cases, this update does not require a restart. If the required files are being used, this update will require a restart. If this behavior occurs, a message appears that advises you to restart.
Removal information WUSA.exe does not support uninstall of updates. To uninstall an update installed by WUSA, click Control Panel, and then click Security. Under Windows Update, click View installed updates and select from the list of updates.
File information See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2853587
Registry key verification Note A registry key does not exist to validate the presence of this update.

Windows Server 2008 (all editions)

Reference Table

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

Security update file names For Active Directory Services and Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS) on all supported 32-bit editions of Windows Server 2008:\ Windows6.0-KB2853587-x86.msu
For Active Directory Services and Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS) on all supported x64-based editions of Windows Server 2008:\ Windows6.0-KB2853587-x64.msu
Installation switches See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 934307
Restart requirement In some cases, this update does not require a restart. If the required files are being used, this update will require a restart. If this behavior occurs, a message appears that advises you to restart.
Removal information WUSA.exe does not support uninstall of updates. To uninstall an update installed by WUSA, click Control Panel, and then click Security. Under Windows Update, click View installed updates and select from the list of updates.
File information See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2853587
Registry key verification Note A registry key does not exist to validate the presence of this update.

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 with AD LDS:Windows6.1-KB2853587-x86.msu
For all supported x64-based editions of Windows 7 with AD LDS:Windows6.1-KB2853587-x64.msu
Installation switches See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 934307
Restart requirement In some cases, this update does not require a restart. If the required files are being used, this update will require a restart. If this behavior occurs, a message appears that advises you to restart.
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 2853587
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 Active Directory Services and Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS) on all supported x64-based editions of Windows Server 2008 R2:\ Windows6.1-KB2853587-x64.msu
Installation switches See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 934307
Restart requirement In some cases, this update does not require a restart. If the required files are being used, this update will require a restart. If this behavior occurs, a message appears that advises you to restart.
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 2853587
Registry key verification Note A registry key does not exist to validate the presence of this update.

Windows 8 (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 with AD LDS:\ Windows8-RT-KB2853587-x86.msu
For all supported 64-bit editions of Windows 8 with AD LDS:\ Windows8-RT-KB2853587-x64.msu
Installation switches See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 934307
Restart requirement In some cases, this update does not require a restart. If the required files are being used, this update will require a restart. If this behavior occurs, a message appears that advises you to restart.
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 click Installed updates and select from the list of updates.
File information See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2853587
Registry key verification Note A registry key does not exist to validate the presence of this update.

Windows Server 2012 (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 with Active Directory Services and Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS):\ Windows8-RT-KB2853587-x64.msu
Installation switches See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 934307
Restart requirement In some cases, this update does not require a restart. If the required files are being used, this update will require a restart. If this behavior occurs, a message appears that advises you to restart.
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 click Installed updates and select from the list of updates.
File information See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2853587
Registry key verification Note A registry key does not exist to validate the presence of this update.

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.

Support

How to obtain help and support for this security update

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 (September 10, 2013): Bulletin published.

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