Microsoft Windows Virtual DOS Machine (VDM) allows elevated privileges

win-vdm-gain-privilege (16580) The risk level is classified as HighHigh Risk

Description:

Microsoft Windows could allow a local attacker to gain elevated privileges, caused by a vulnerability in the Virtual DOS Machine subsystem component. The Virtual DOS Machine (VDM) subsystem imitates MS-DOS and DOS-based Windows on Windows NT platforms. A local attacker could create an application to access protected kernel memory and execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.

Note: This vulnerability is different than the vulnerability addressed in Microsoft Bulletin MS04-011.


Consequences:

Gain Privileges

Remedy:

Apply the appropriate patch for your system, as listed in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-032. See References.

For Windows Server 2003:
Apply the appropriate patch for your system, as listed in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-018. See References.

Microsoft originally provided a patch for this vulnerability in MS04-032, but it was superseded by the patch released with MS05-018.

References:

Platforms Affected:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 SP3
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4
  • Microsoft Windows 2003 Server x64
  • Microsoft Windows 2003 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows 98SE
  • Microsoft Windows Me
  • Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6a Server
  • Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6 Terminal Server
  • Microsoft Windows XP 2003 x64
  • Microsoft Windows XP
  • Microsoft Windows XP SP1
  • Microsoft Windows XP SP1 x64

Reported:

Oct 12, 2004

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