Patch Tuesday Analysis for January 2008
Only 2 bulletins this month and neither is what I’d call high priority unless you manage a server exposed to the Internet that sends or receives multi-cast traffic. If you have systems connected to hostile networks that are open to IGMP/MLD and Router Discovery Protocol you should load this patch as soon as possible. Of course workstations are typically in this category but I would recommend testing the patch before rolling out to hundreds or thousands of workstations. Your other option – for systems that don’t need to support multicast traffic – is to disable the features with a registry tweak that can be automated through group policy with a custom administrative template.
The other vulnerability is limited to the risk of someone logged on locally who runs a specially crafted program which elevates its privileges. This is mostly a matter for high security workstation environments where end users don’t have admin authority and Terminal Servers where end-users could access and execute a specially crafted program.
| Bulletin | Exploit Types
/Technologies Affected | System Types Affected | Exploit
details public?
/ Being exploited? | Comprehensive,
practical
workaround
available? | MS severity rating | Products Affected | Notes | Randy's recommendation | MS08-001
941644 | Arbitrary code
/ Windows | Workstations
Terminal Servers
| No/No | Yes | Critical | Win2000
XP
Vista
Server 2003
Small Business Server 2003
| Restart is Required | Options: - Disable or block IGMP/MLD and Router Discovery Protocol. This will break multi-cast applications such as some features in Ghost or live Internet broadcasts. Can be disabled using group policy by creating a custom administrative template. - Patch after testing | MS08-002
943485 | Privilege elevation
/ Windows | Workstations
Terminal Servers
| No/No | No | Important | Win2000
XP
Server 2003
| Restart is Required | Patch after testing |
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