Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates a security
vulnerability in Microsoft WebTV for Windows. The vulnerability could allow a
malicious user to remotely cause your computer that is running WebTV for
Windows to stop responding (hang).
There is a denial of service
vulnerability in the Microsoft Announcement Listener (Annclist.exe) component
of WebTV for Windows that may allow a malicious user to cause your computer
that is running WebTV for Windows to stop responding, or cause the WebTV for
Windows program to stop responding. Note that you can restart the program or
your computer to return to a normal state.
Although the WebTV for
Windows program is included with Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and
Windows Millennium Edition (Me), this program is not installed by default.
Because of this, your computer is not at risk unless you have installed WebTV
for Windows.
A
supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to
correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to
computers that are experiencing this specific problem.
To resolve this
problem immediately, download the fix by clicking the download link later in
this article or contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix.
For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and
information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for
support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines
that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will
apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the
specific update in question.
The following files are available for
download from the Microsoft Download Center:
Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition
English (U.S.):
Collapse this imageExpand this image
Windows Millennium Edition
English (U.S.):
Collapse this imageExpand this image
Release Date:
Oct-11-2000
For additional information about how to download
Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article
in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
119591Â
(http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=119591/EN-US/
)
How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services
Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most
current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file
was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to
prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.
The English version of this fix should have the
following file attributes or later:
Date Time Version Size File name
---------------------------------------------------
09/21/00 11:19am 4.10.2223 119,808 Annclist.exe
WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, use one of the following methods.
Method 1
Configure Announcement Listener so that it does not automatically
start, and can only be started manually.
NOTE: After you use this workaround, you can continue to run WebTV for
Windows, but the Webcast and Advanced Television Enhancement Forum (ATVEF)
features are disabled. Note that closed captioning continues to work.
- Start Announcement Manager. To do so, double-click the
Annui.exe file in the Program Files\TV Viewer folder.
- On the Options menu, click No Automatic Start.
- Quit Announcement Manager.
Method 2
WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious
problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft
cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry
Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own
risk.
Rename the Announcement Listener port List in the
registry:
NOTE: After you use this workaround, you can continue to run WebTV for
Windows, but the Webcast and Advanced Television Enhancement Forum (ATVEF)
features are disabled. Note that closed captioning continues to work.
Use Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) to rename the Announcements subkey in the
following registry key to Announcements_Stop, and then restart your computer:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\TV Services
Method 3
Uninstall WebTV for Windows.
NOTE: After you use this workaround, WebTV for Windows does not work,
and Announcement Listener (Annclist.exe) does not start.
- Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
- Double-click Add/Remove Programs, and then click the Windows Setup tab.
- Click to clear the WebTV for Windows check
box, and then click OK.
Microsoft
has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed
at the beginning of this article.
For additional information about Windows
Me hotfixes, click the article number below to view the article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:
295413Â
(http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=295413/EN-US/
)
General Information About Windows Millennium Edition Hotfixes
For additional information about Windows 98 and Windows 98
Second Edition hotfixes, click the article number below to view the article in
the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
206071Â
(http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=206071/EN-US/
)
General Information About Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition Hotfixes
For additional information, see Security Bulletin MS00-074. To do so, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS00-074.mspx
(http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS00-074.mspx)