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Update Protection against Microsoft WINS Server WPAD Registration Spoofing Vulnerability (MS09-008)

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Check Point Reference: CPAI-2009-034
Date Published:
Severity:
Source: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS09-008
Industry Reference(s): CVE-2009-0094
Protection Provided by: Security Gateway
  • R70
VPN-1
  • NGX R65
  • NGX R62
  • NGX R61
  • NGX R60
VSX
  • NGX R65
InterSpect
  • NGX
Who is Vulnerable?
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP4
Windows Server 2003 SP1
Windows Server 2003 SP2
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition SP2
Windows Server 2003 with SP1 (Itanium)
Windows Server 2003 with SP2 (Itanium)
Vulnerability Description
A Web Proxy Auto-Discovery (WPAD) registration spoofing vulnerability has been reported in Microsoft WINS servers. WPAD feature enables web clients to automatically detect proxy settings without user intervention. Spoofing allows an attacker to change a server entry so it would point to an IP of his own choice. This vulnerability could allow a remote attacker to spoof a web proxy, thereby redirecting Internet traffic from legitimate locations.
Update/Patch Available
Apply patches:
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS09-008
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is due to an error in the Windows WINS server that fails to correctly validate who can register WPAD entries on the server. By default a WINS server will allow any user to create a registration in the WINS database for WPAD if the name registration does not already exist. A remote attacker may exploit this issue by registering "WPAD" in the WINS database and point it to an IP address of his choice; it would allow the attacker to conduct a man in the middle attack against any browsers configured to use WPAD to discover proxy server settings.

Protection Overview
By enabling this protection, SmartDefense will detect and block attempts to register vulnerable names in the WINS database. IPS-1 will detect and block:
- DNS update requests containing the name WPAD or ISATAP.
- attempts by unauthorized hosts to register the name WPAD via the WINS protocol.
- attempts by unauthorized hosts to register the name ISATAP via the WINS protocol.
-  attmpts by unauthorized hosts to register the name WPAD via the NetBIOS protocol. 
- atempts by unauthorized hosts to register the name ISATAP via the NetBIOS protocol.

In order for the protection to be activated, update your Security Gateway/VPN-1/InterSpect product to the latest SmartDefense update. For information on how to update SmartDefense, go to SBP-2006-05, Protection tab and select the version of your choice.

To configure the defense, select your product from the list below and follow the related protection steps.

Security Gateway R70

How Can I Protect My Network?
1. In the IPS tab, click Protections > By Protocol > Application Intelligence > Microsoft Networks.
2. In the right pane, double-click the following protection:

Microsoft WINS Server WPAD Registration Spoofing (MS09-008)

3. In the Protection Details window, click on Edit. Choose the protection's Action (Override IPS Policy with: Prevent/Detect), and apply Additional Settings.
4. Install policy on all modules.

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?
SmartView Tracker will log the following entries:

Attack Name: Microsoft WINS Protection Violation
Attack Information: Microsoft WINS server WPAD registration spoofing (MS09-008)

VPN-1 NGX R65 & R62

How Can I Protect My Network?
1. In the SmartDefense tab, click Application Intelligence > Microsoft Networks > Microsoft WINS Server WPAD Registration Spoofing (MS09-008).
2. In the configuration pane, under Settings > Mode, check Active.
3. Install policy on all modules.

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?
SmartView Tracker will log the following entries:

Attack Name: Microsoft WINS Protection Violation
Attack Information: Microsoft WINS server WPAD registration spoofing (MS09-008)

VPN-1 NGX R61 & R60

How Can I Protect My Network?
1. In the SmartDefense tree, click Application Intelligence > Microsoft Networks.
2. Select the following protection:

Microsoft WINS Server WPAD Registration Spoofing (MS09-008)

3. Install policy on all modules.

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?
SmartView Tracker will log the following entries:

Attack Name: Microsoft WINS Protection Violation
Attack Information: Microsoft WINS server WPAD registration spoofing (MS09-008)

VPN-1 VSX NGX R65

How Can I Protect My Network?
1. In the SmartDefense tab, click Application Intelligence > Microsoft Networks > Microsoft WINS Server WPAD Registration Spoofing (MS09-008).
2. In the configuration pane, under Settings > Mode, check Active.
3. Install policy on all modules.

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?
SmartView Tracker will log the following entries:

Attack Name: Microsoft WINS Protection Violation
Attack Information: Microsoft WINS server WPAD registration spoofing (MS09-008)

InterSpect NGX

How Can I Protect My Network?
1. In the left pane, select Profiles > Default Protection and select the SmartDefense page of the profile.
2. In the SmartDefense tree, click Application Intelligence > Microsoft Networks.
3. Select the following protection:

Microsoft WINS Server WPAD Registration Spoofing (MS09-008)

4. Install security policy on all modules.

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?
SmartView Tracker will log the following entries:

Attack Name: Microsoft WINS Protection Violation
Attack Information: Microsoft WINS server WPAD registration spoofing (MS09-008)

IPS-1 & IPS-1 NGX R65

How Can I Protect My Network?

1. In the IPS-1 Policy Manager, click on the Protection tab.
2. In the Protection tree, click Network Security > WINS, and select the WINS Labels protection group.
3. Click

WINS announcement for WPAD (IPS-1 NGX R65 only)
WINS announcement for ISATAP (IPS-1 NGX R65 only)

4. In the configuration pane, under Settings, check Active.
5. Click on Install Policy.

- To add a host to the list of allowed WPAD servers, add the host IP to the 'WINS WPAD Hosts' variable.
- To add a host to the list of allowed WPAD servers, add the host IP to the 'WINS ISATAP Hosts' variable.

By enabling this protection, IPS-1 will detect and block attempts by unauthorized hosts to register the name ISATAP via the WINS protocol.

1. In the IPS-1 Policy Manager, click on the Protection tab.
2. In the Protection tree, click Network Security > SMB, and select the NetBIOS UDP protection group.
3. Click SMB Browser Host Announcement for WPAD (IPS-1 NGX R65 only).
4. In the configuration pane, under Settings, check Active.
5. Click on Install Policy. 

By enabling this protection, IPS-1 will detect and block atempts by unauthorized hosts to register the name WPAD via the NetBIOS protocol.

To add a host to the list of allowed WPAD servers, add the host IP to the 'SMB Browser WPAD Hosts' variable.

1. In the IPS-1 Policy Manager, click on the Protection tab.
2. In the Protection tree, click Network Security > SMB, and select the NetBIOS UDP protection group.
3. Click SMB Browser Host Announcement for ISATAP (IPS-1 NGX R65 only).
4. In the configuration pane, under Settings, check Active.
5. Click on Install Policy.

By enabling this protection, IPS-1 will detect and block atempts by unauthorized hosts to register the name ISATAP via the NetBIOS protocol.

To add a host to the list of allowed WPAD servers, add the host IP to he 'SMB Browser ISATAP Hosts' variable.

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?

Upon attack, the following entries will be logged:

Alert Name: WINS Labels
Description: WINS announcement for ISATAP

Alert Name: WINS Labels
Description: WINS announcement for WPAD

Alert Name: DNS Names and Labels Alerts
Description: DNS Update for WPAD

Alert Name: DNS Names and Labels Alerts
Description: DNS Update for ISATAP

Alert Name: SMB NetBIOS Datagram
Description: SMB Browser Host Announcement for WPAD

Alert Name: SMB NetBIOS Datagram
Description: SMB Browser Host Announcement for ISATAP