• Article

Security Bulletin

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS99-052 - Critical

Patch Available for "Legacy Credential Caching" Vulnerability

Published: November 29, 1999

Version: 1.0

Originally Posted: November 29, 1999

Summary

Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates a security vulnerability in Microsoft® Windows® 95 and 98 caused by a legacy mechanism for caching network security credentials. The vulnerability could allow a user's plaintext network password to be retrieved from the cache.

Frequently asked questions regarding this vulnerability can be found at https://www.microsoft.com/security/bulletins/fq99-052.mspx.

Issue

Windows for Workgroups provided a RAM-based caching mechanism that cached the user's plaintext network credentials for use by real-mode command-line networking utilities. Part of this mechanism was carried forward into the Windows 95 and 98 designs, even though it is not used by either. A malicious user could query this mechanism to obtain the network credentials of the last person to use the machine for network access, as long as they had physical access to the machine and it had not been rebooted since the last networking session.

Affected Software Versions

  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Microsoft Windows 98

Vulnerability Identifier: CVE-1999-0387

Patch Availability

  • Windows 95:
    https:

  • Windows 98:
    </https:>https:

    NOTE: Windows 98 Second Edition is not affected by this vulnerability.

More Information

Please see the following references for more information related to this issue.

  • Microsoft Security Bulletin MS99-052: Frequently Asked Questions, https://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletins/fq99-052.mspx.

  • Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) article 168115, Windows Security Update Prevents Reading Domain Password, </https:>https:.
    (Note: It may take 24 hours from the original posting of this bulletin for this KB article to be visible.)

  • Microsoft Security web site, </https:>https:.

Obtaining Support on this Issue

This is a fully supported patch. Information on contacting Microsoft Technical Support is available at </https:>https:.

Revisions

  • November 29, 1999: Bulletin Created.

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