CVE-2008-4037

Microsoft Windows 2000 Gold through SP4, XP Gold through SP3, Server 2003 SP1 and SP2, Vista Gold and SP1, and Server 2008 allows remote SMB servers to execute…

published November 12, 2008

Patch now

High probability of exploitation

NVD has not assigned a CVSS score to this record. It sits in the 99.1th percentile for exploit probability.

CVSS
—
EPSS
59%
Percentile
99.1
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

🚨 A crafty replay of NTLM credentials lets remote SMB servers execute arbitrary code on your client machine — and it’s affecting versions of Windows you might still see around! ⚡ Think of this vulnerability like a restaurant that lets someone walk in and place an order simply by repeating what another customer said earlier, bypassing all the checks. If a shady character overhears someone’s order, they could get a meal for free, and in this case, it could mean executing harmful code! An attacker could potentially take control of your machine and execute any code they desire, leading to unauthorized access, data leaks, or even full system compromise. This makes it incredibly risky, especially for systems that are still operational in sensitive environments.

Put simply

Think of this vulnerability like a restaurant that lets someone walk in and place an order simply by repeating what another customer said earlier, bypassing all the checks. If a shady character overhears someone’s order, they could get a meal for free, and in this case, it could mean executing harmful code! This vulnerability arises from the SMB protocol allowing NTLM credentials to be reused, enabling attackers to impersonate users without needing their direct authentication, much like a thief mimicking a customer's order to get access to the kitchen.

What to do

An attacker could potentially take control of your machine and execute any code they desire, leading to unauthorized access, data leaks, or even full system compromise. This makes it incredibly risky, especially for systems that are still operational in sensitive environments. Ensure that any systems still running affected Windows versions are either upgraded or properly patched. Implement network segmentation and restrict SMB access to reduce exposure. Consider enforcing stronger authentication methods to protect against credential replay attacks. You've got this! Stay proactive with your security measures, and together, we can keep your systems safe! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.59136 · 99.1th percentile
Published
2008-11-12T23:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 12 NOV 23:00Z
    Microsoft Windows 2000 Gold through SP4, XP Gold through SP3, Server 2003 SP1 and SP2, Vista Gold and SP1, and Server 2008 allows remote SMB servers to execute…
    cvelistv5