DOCUMENT:Q184017 TITLE :Administrators can Display Contents of Service Account Passwords PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:3.51 4.00 OPER/SYS:WINDOWS KEYWORDS:kbbug4.00 kbbug3.51 kbfix4.00 kbfile ntsecurity --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.51 and 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51 and 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0 - Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server version 4.0 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== A program is available on the Internet that allows a local Administrator, with full control of a Windows NT system, to use APIs published in the Win32 software development kit (SDK) for Windows NT to display the contents of security information stored by the Local Security Authority (LSA) in a form called LSA Secrets. LSA Secrets are used to store information such as the passwords for service accounts used to start services under an account other than local System. CAUSE ===== This is by design. Members of the local Administrators groups are trusted users that have the ability to access any information that can also be accessed by the operating system itself. RESOLUTION ========== The updates in this Windows NT 4.0 hotfix provide the following additional protection for the LSA Secret data: - Additional encryption for the LSA Secrets, which provides protection for this information when stored on backup tapes, the Emergency Repair Disk, or other registry backups. For maximum protection, you should also enable the System Key option. For information on System Key (Syskey.exe) functionality, please refer to the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: ARTICLE-ID: Q143475 TITLE : Windows NT System Key Permits Strong Encryption of the SAM - The value of the LSA private data is not returned to remote clients over the network. - Calls to the Win32 APIs will not return LSA private data used for service accounts and other system components to unauthorized applications (non-system components). - This update includes a change to the privilege needed to open the Security Event log. Applications that open this log on systems running with this update installed fail unless the security privilege (SE_SECURITY_NAME) is enabled. Contact Microsoft Technical Support to obtain the following fix, or wait for the next Windows NT service pack. Before You Apply the Hotfix: Because this hotfix makes a modification to the on-disk storage of the LSA data information, Microsoft does not recommend that it be uninstalled. Perform the following steps to ease the transition back to a pre-LSA2-fix configuration in case you experience problems with the hotfix: 1. Perform a Full System Backup. 2. Backup or make copies of all the files that will be updated by LSA2-fix. 3. Create an updated pre-LSA2-fix Emergency Repair Disk (ERD). This fix should have the following time stamp: 04/22/98 06:05p 51,472 Eventlog.dll (Intel) 04/27/98 12:48p 154,896 Lsasrv.dll (Intel) 04/25/98 07:45p 18,704 Msaudite.dll (Intel) 05/08/98 07:42p 40,208 Msv1_0.dll (Intel) 05/13/98 04:32p 425,744 Netcfg.dll (Intel) 06/22/98 08:25p 41,744 Samlib.dll (Intel) 05/08/98 07:42p 169,232 Samsrv.dll (Intel) 04/27/98 12:48p 130,832 Services.exe (Intel) 06/22/98 09:04p 211,216 Srvmgr.exe (Intel) 06/22/98 08:25p 88,336 Xactsrv.dll (Intel) 02/04/98 02:20p 84,240 Eventlog.dll (Alpha) 04/15/98 12:37p 253,200 Lsasrv.dll (Alpha) 04/02/98 06:24p 22,800 Msaudite.dll (Alpha) 05/08/98 07:42p 67,344 Msv1_0.dll (Alpha) 05/13/98 04:33p 645,392 Netcfg.dll (Alpha) 06/22/98 08:25p 78,608 Samlib.dll (Alpha) 05/08/98 07:42p 288,528 Samsrv.dll (Alpha) 04/24/98 05:55p 241,936 Services.exe (Alpha) 06/22/98 09:00p 305,936 Srvmgr.exe (Alpha) 06/22/98 08:25p 170,768 Xactsrv.dll (Alpha) NOTE: This hotfix supersedes the fix referred to in the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: ARTICLE-ID: Q154087 TITLE : Access Violation in LSASS.EXE Due to Incorrect Buffer Size ARTICLE-ID: Q174205 TITLE : LSASS May Use a Large Amount of Memory on a Domain Controller ARTICLE-ID: Q129457 TITLE : Anonymous Connections May Be Able to Obtain the Password Policy This hotfix has been posted to the following Internet location: NOTE: An updated version of this hotfix was posted on July 20, 1998 and provides an additional security level to systems running Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3. ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/winnt/winnt-public/fixes/usa/NT40/hotfixes-postSP3/lsa2-fix/ MORE INFORMATION ================ If you experience problems with this hotfix, perform the following steps to restore the system to its original configuration before applying the hotfix: 1. Create a post-LSA2-fix ERD. This disk should only be necessary if the following steps fail. 2. Rename the current system files in the %Systemroot%\System32 folder that are being used by this hotfix. 3. Copy the original versions of these system files from \%Systemroot%\$NtUninstallQ184017$ to the %Systemroot%\System32 folder. 4. Use the pre-LSA2-fix ERD to start the computer and repair the Security hive. 5. Restart the computer to load the pre-LSA2-fix system files that can use the pre-LSA2-fix Security hive format. STATUS ====== Windows NT 4.0 -------------- Microsoft has released a fully supported hotfix that provides additional protection of sensitive system information stored as LSA secrets. This hotfix has not been fully regression tested and should only be applied to systems determined to be at risk of attack. Please evaluate your system's physical accessibility, network and Internet connectivity, and other factors to determine the degree of risk to your system. If your system is sufficiently at risk, Microsoft recommends you apply this fix. Otherwise, wait for the next Windows NT service pack, which will contain this fix. Please contact Microsoft Technical Support for more information. Windows NT 3.51 --------------- A hotfix for Windows NT 3.51 is not available at this time. Additional query words: 3.51 4.00 ============================================================================ 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. 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