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A  U  S  C  E  R  T                                           A  L  E  R  T

                       AL-2006.0128 -- AUSCERT ALERT
                                   [Win]
    Unpatched local privilege escalation in the Microsoft Windows CSRSS
                             22 December 2006

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        AusCERT Alert Summary
        ---------------------

Product:              Windows Client/Server Runtime Server Subsystem
Operating System:     Windows Vista
                      Windows Server 2003
                      Windows XP
                      Windows 2000
Impact:               Administrator Compromise
Access:               Existing Account
Member content until: Friday, January 19 2007

Original Bulletin:    
http://www.determina.com/security.research/vulnerabilities/csrss-harderror.html

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OVERVIEW:
        
        A privilege escalation vulnerability in recent versions of 
        Microsoft Windows has been publicly disclosed on various mailing
        lists and websites [1][2].


IMPACT: 

        A vulnerability exists in the processing of HardError messages in 
        the Windows Client/Server Runtime Server Subsystem (CSRSS). 
        Successful exploitation of this vulnerability allows a local 
        unprivileged user to execute commands in the context of SYSTEM.


MITIGATION:

        Microsoft has not publicly acknowledged this vulnerability or 
        released patches to correct it. As the CSRSS is an essential Windows 
        subsystem, no alternative mitigation strategies are available.


REFERENCES:

        [1] BUGTRAQ - Microsoft Windows XP/2003/Vista memory corruption 0day
            http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/455042/30/0/threaded

        [2] Determina Security Research - Windows CSRSS HardError Message 
            Box Vulnerability
            http://www.determina.com/security.research/vulnerabilities/csrss-harderror.html

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===========================================================================
Australian Computer Emergency Response Team
The University of Queensland
Brisbane
Qld 4072

Internet Email: auscert@auscert.org.au
Facsimile:      (07) 3365 7031
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