Quantum Secular Labs / Blog / Advisories

CVE-2000-1218: Microsoft Windows 98: Origin Validation Error

CVE-2000-1218 is rated critical with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 and affects Microsoft Windows 98, along with 4 other products in NVD’s configuration data. Per its scoring, it can be exploited over the network, without authentication, without any user interaction. The scored impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability is the highest available.

Vulnerability description

The default configuration for the domain name resolver for Microsoft Windows 98, NT 4.0, 2000, and XP sets the QueryIpMatching parameter to 0, which causes Windows to accept DNS updates from hosts that it did not query, which allows remote attackers to poison the DNS cache.

Severity breakdown

CVSS v3.1 9.8: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

  • Attack vector: Network. Exploitable remotely over the network, with no need for local or physical access.
  • Attack complexity: Low. No special conditions; the attack can be repeated reliably.
  • Privileges required: None. No account or prior access is needed.
  • User interaction: None. No action from any user is needed.
  • Scope: Unchanged. Impact stays within the vulnerable component.
  • Confidentiality impact: High. Total loss of confidentiality; sensitive data can be fully disclosed.
  • Integrity impact: High. Total loss of integrity; data or system state can be fully modified.
  • Availability impact: High. Total loss of availability; the component can be shut down.

Underlying weakness

CWE-346: Origin Validation Error

The product does not properly verify that the source of data or communication is valid.

Affected products

  • Microsoft Windows 98: all versions listed by NVD
  • Microsoft Windows 2000: all versions listed by NVD
  • Microsoft Windows 98se: all versions listed by NVD
  • Microsoft Windows Nt: 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows Xp: all versions listed by NVD

References