From: "Microsoft Product Security" To: Subject: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS00-035 (version 2.0) Date: Friday, May 11, 2001 1:54 AM The following is a Security Bulletin from the Microsoft Product Security Notification Service. Please do not reply to this message, as it was sent from an unattended mailbox. ******************************** -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Patch Available for "SQL Server 7.0 Service Pack Password" Vulnerability Released: 15 June 2000 Revised: 10 May 2001 (version 2.0) Software: SQL Server 7.0 Impact: Information disclosure Bulletin: MS00-035 Microsoft encourages customers to review the Security Bulletin at: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS00-035.asp. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Reason for Revision: ==================== Bulletin was revised to reflect a patch available for SQL Server 7.0 Service Pack 3 and a password removal tool available via KB article Q263968. Issue: ====== When SQL Server 7.0 Service Packs 1, 2, or 3 are installed on a machine that is configured to perform authentication using Mixed Mode, the password for the SQL Server standard security System Administrator (sa) account is recorded in plaintext in the files %TEMP%\sqlsp.log and %WINNT%\setup.iss. The default permissions on the files would allow any user to read them who could log onto the server interactively. The password is only recorded if Mixed Mode is used, and even then, only if the adminstrator chose to use SQL Server Authentication when installing the service pack. Microsoft has long recommended that SQL servers be configured to use the more secure Windows NT Authentication Mode, and customers who have followed this recommendation would not be affected. Even on affected machines, the password could not be compromised if, per normal security recommendations, normal users are prevented from logging onto the machine interactively. Mitigating Factors: ==================== - It does not occur when the recommended authentication method, Windows NT Authentication, is used. - Even when Mixed Mode is used, it only occurs if a particular type of authentication, SQL Server Authentication, is used. - By default, the files containing the password could only be read by a user who could interactively log onto the server. Standard security recommendations strongly militate against allowing normal users to interactively log onto security critical servers such as database servers. Patch Availability: =================== - A patch is available to fix this vulnerability. Please read the Security Bulletin http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms00-035.asp for information on obtaining this patch. - --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGP Personal Privacy 6.5.3 iQEVAwUBOvs9740ZSRQxA/UrAQF27wf7BbdwUWM7HUnawLNDjxpj5Hexf6UPAQo7 NlDSRqKp/VEywK5IS0oJxCC+OTKjV4kpB6drn0/G7wosdtnQ/eOKJdsX2gu3Naq4 3idvgwWxfxMsts3wzuT5aoNn0Kxt5bPgU0Pw9DHs/cXJHp+TJssnrYj3LH87B6bq gOsO/cFQOEKtQ6Pkw06wmQNe8mxW2q/Y6ZbZ9LZHDrCfb7M0Uflw9vedTsd/IHPz boDYXg3dHpDm3+hdfOQoy3kCNXRwAlU0RMp6MdbjiKBqsDYJlH7N38VL/EBdbIUD FSDVTZMlNKq1ZaHYKASN8FjC3VuaTrejcugxHABs5p2Fh5p9PaBV3w== =y9hK -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- ******************************************************************* You have received this e-mail bulletin as a result of your registration to the Microsoft Product Security Notification Service. You may unsubscribe from this e-mail notification service at any time by sending an e-mail to MICROSOFT_SECURITY-SIGNOFF-REQUEST@ANNOUNCE.MICROSOFT.COM The subject line and message body are not used in processing the request, and can be anything you like. To verify the digital signature on this bulletin, please download our PGP key at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/notify.asp. For more information on the Microsoft Security Notification Service please visit http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/notify.asp. For security-related information about Microsoft products, please visit the Microsoft Security Advisor web site at http://www.microsoft.com/security.