win98 dsmplugin problems

sgt-d · Post by **sgt-d** » 2005-04-11 17:44

from the dsmplugin readme:

"Supports 128bit on Windows 95 osr2 -> Windows 2003 (Win 95/98 require High Encryption Pack)"

really? cuz i'm having no luck at all under windows 98.

i built an rc4.key file with vncviewer on a windows xp system, then i copied it to other systems. all of the xp boxes work fine, but the same rc4 key can't be used by winvnc (application or service) or vncviewer on my win9x boxes (i have only tried on two win9x systems).

what i am actually seeing during connections...

running xpsp2 + dsmplugin + vncviewer to connect to win9x + dsmplugin + winvnc server...

i am able to start the server using either dsmplugin (reg/noreg), without any errors or indications of any problems... but any attempts to connect to the server via vncviewer shows the splash screen and then the status window just sits there indefinitely. in cases where the status window is off, it shows the connection splash screen, then the splash screen goes away and nothing else happens - again, indefinitely. i have to stop the viewer or the server on the other end manually. in most cases, they both close gracefully without crashing.

what is going on behind the scenes...

i tried turning on logging and starting my server with the plugin enabled:

04/11/05 10:34:25 : StartUp
04/11/05 10:34:25 : NOREG MS RC4 Plugin,Sean E. Covel,Mar 12 2005,1.1.6,MSRC4Plugin.dsm
04/11/05 10:34:25 : GetEnvVar (getenv) dsmdebug = 1
04/11/05 10:34:25 : dsmdebug = 1
04/11/05 10:34:25 : Set Params
04/11/05 10:34:25 : NOREG MS RC4 Plugin,Sean E. Covel,Mar 12 2005,1.1.6,MSRC4Plugin.dsm
04/11/05 10:34:25 : InitVars
04/11/05 10:34:25 : GetCryptoVersion.
04/11/05 10:34:25 : Acquiring the Crypto Context.
04/11/05 10:34:25 : Crypto acquired a Crypto Provider Context.
04/11/05 10:34:25 : Crypto Version = 2
04/11/05 10:34:25 : OS is 'Windows 98SE'
04/11/05 10:34:25 : Using provider 'Microsoft Enhanced Cryptographic Provider v1.0'
04/11/05 10:34:25 : Max Key Length 128
04/11/05 10:34:25 : GetEnvVar (registry) programfiles = C:\Program Files
04/11/05 10:34:25 : SetParams - StartUp.
04/11/05 10:34:25 : ***** SERVER -> Application *****
04/11/05 10:34:25 : Trying to find the key file
04/11/05 10:34:25 : Looking at msrc4pluginkey
04/11/05 10:34:25 : GetEnvVar (getenv) msrc4pluginkey = "c:\program files\UltraVNC\rc4.key"
04/11/05 10:34:25 : msrcpluginkey "c:\program files\UltraVNC\rc4.key"
04/11/05 10:34:25 : Looking for rc4.key
04/11/05 10:34:25 : Found key at rc4.key
04/11/05 10:34:25 : CreateContainer.
04/11/05 10:34:26 : A crypto context with the MSRC4Plugin key container already exists.
04/11/05 10:34:26 : A signature key is available.
04/11/05 10:34:26 : An exchange key exists.
04/11/05 10:34:26 : CryptAcquireContext |268483936| |MSRC4Plugin| |Microsoft Enhanced Cryptographic Provider v1.0| |1| |0|
04/11/05 10:34:26 : CreateContainer.
04/11/05 10:34:26 : A crypto context with the MSRC4Plugin key container already exists.
04/11/05 10:34:26 : A signature key is available.
04/11/05 10:34:26 : An exchange key exists.
04/11/05 10:34:26 : CryptAcquireContext |268483940| |MSRC4Plugin| |Microsoft Enhanced Cryptographic Provider v1.0| |1| |0|
04/11/05 10:34:26 : Reading KeyBlob
04/11/05 10:34:26 : Importing ExponentOfOne KeyBlob
04/11/05 10:34:26 : Import Blank Key failed. (SetParams)
04/11/05 10:34:26 : Reading KeyBlob
04/11/05 10:34:26 : Importing ExponentOfOne KeyBlob
04/11/05 10:34:26 : Import Blank Key failed. (SetParams)
04/11/05 10:34:26 : Key File Read.
04/11/05 10:34:42 : Reset Plugin.
04/11/05 10:34:42 : CryptEncrypt failed.
04/11/05 10:35:04 : Shutting Down.

running win9x + dsmplugin + vncviewer to connect to xpsp2 + dsmplugin + winvnc server...

i tried turning on logging and starting my viewer with the plugin enabled:

Started and Winsock (v 2) initialised
bufsize expanded to 4352
Registered connection with app
Saving connection info
Saving to C:\windows\TEMP\options.vnc
Viewer is C:\PROGRAM FILES\ULTRAVNC\VNCVIEWER.EXE
Connected to x.x.x.x port 5900
Error reading protocol version: WriteExact: DSMPlugin-RestoreBuffer Error.
Deregistered connection from app
Exiting
VNC viewer closing down

i tried to generate a new 128 bit ra4.key file (the 128 bit radio button was enabled, indicating that it was available) in vncviewer but it gives me this error:

Error!
An unrecoverable error occured.
GenerateKey Failed

i am running internet explorer 6.0 sp1+ with the high encryption pack (128 bit):

Internet Explorer
Version: 6.0.2800.1106CO
Cipher Strength: 128-bit
Update Versions: ;SP1;Q818529;Q330994;q313829;Q822925;Q828750;Q824145;Q832894;Q837009;Q831167;Q823353;Q867801;Q833989;Q834707;Q889293;Q867282;Q891781;

i personally think there is a problem with dsmpluin 1.1.6 under win9x.

is anyone else seeing this behavior?

references:

Win98 128 Bit encryption
[topic=1970][/topic]

scovel · Post by **scovel** » 2005-04-11 18:44

Download the crypto.exe utility off the plugin website. Put it on your 98 machine, and then run crypto.exe -x. It will create a log file called crypto.log. Send the log file to my Email address on the plugin website.

Sean

sgt-d · Post by **sgt-d** » 2005-04-11 19:21

ok, done

scovel · Post by **scovel** » 2005-04-12 13:23

It is possible that your key container is corrupt. Unfortunately the Windows 9X/ME/NT series still has to have a persistent key container. 2000/XP/2003 don't, so it doesn't get corrupt.

I'm going to send you a newer version of crypto.exe. It has 2 new command-line parameters. When you get it, try this:

crypto.exe -r

This will remove the key container. Delete the crypto.log file, then do this:

crypto.exe -c

This will create a new key container. Take a look at crypto.log. The last thing it should say is that the container is ready for use. If not, send me the logfile.

Go ahead and test with Ultra again. If it still doesn't work, run:

crypto -x

and send me the crypto.log again.

Sean

sgt-d · Post by **sgt-d** » 2005-04-12 13:35

the new crypto fixed the problem.

thanks for your help!

scovel · Post by **scovel** » 2005-04-12 13:42

No problem!

Guess I'll have to put the new crypto.exe on my website.

Sean

nshewmaker · Post by **nshewmaker** » 2005-11-30 20:33

I'm having the same problem on my network. I generated a 128-bit key on an XP machine, and have been distributing it to my various server boxes as needed.

I am unable to connect to a Windows 98 server, with problems like those described before. If I go into Admin Properties, then to Config the plugin (NoReg) settings, the radio buttons for 56- and 128-bit are not available in the GenKey area.

I ran the crypto command with the -r then -c options, rebooted, but still have the same problem. Am I supposed to run the commands in a certain directory (I tried C:\Program Files\UltraVNC)? Is there something else I can try?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 2005-11-30 20:39

when you ran crypto with the command line options, did it report what it was doing?

if it didn't report anything then you need the newest crypto.

i can look for it and email it to you if you need it, just let me know.

scovel · Post by **scovel** » 2005-12-01 02:00

run crypto -x and send me the logfile. You probably don't have the high encryption pack installed so you don't support 128Bit.

Sean

nshewmaker · Post by **nshewmaker** » 2005-12-01 17:34

I'm wondering if this plugin actually breaks something. I have the plugin disabled on my WinNT VNC server, and I'm still having problems, whereas I didn't before. The first two attempts to connect seem to succeed then crash. The third attempt hangs up on the "Connecting" part of the connection process, eventually giving a wrong protocol/missing plugin message.

The server icon in the systray is then unresponsive. I have to kill the server using Task Manager.

[addendum]
I have removed the plugin file and key file from the program directory and restarted the server. It seems to be working fine now. That means either the plugin is incompatible with some systems AND that VNC doesn't stop using the plugin when it's not checked; the key it generates somehow is affecting the system; or this all relates back to the 128-bit problem.

scovel · Post by **scovel** » 2005-12-01 18:18

The VNC Server service requires a restart after enabling/disabling plugins. (Ok, some of the time it doesn't require a restart, but you're safe if you always do a restart.)

I looked at the logs from the crypto -x. Looks like both machines (NT4 and 98) do have 128Bit encryption installed. There were some errors in there that I need to look at tonight. Can you turn on logging for the plugin and attempt a connection? Send me the logs from the viewer and the server.

Sean

nshewmaker · Post by **nshewmaker** » 2005-12-01 19:40

scovel wrote:Can you turn on logging for the plugin and attempt a connection? Send me the logs from the viewer and the server.

How do I do that? I have logging for the server. I don't see an option in the viewer or the plugin.

scovel · Post by **scovel** » 2005-12-01 19:56

You need to turn on logging for the plugin, not for UltraVNC. See my website for instructions:

http://msrc4plugin.home.comcast.net/index.html

Sean

littlesniper · Post by **littlesniper** » 2006-01-21 23:22

u talked about putting the new crypto version on ur site but I still can't find it anywhere and I have the same problem (but my viewer is under wine

)
Could you please let me know where to find it ?

redge · Post by **redge** » 2006-01-21 23:43

u talked about putting the new crypto version on ur site but I still can't find it anywhere

really ????

MSRC4 web page wrote:Utility

A utility to test various crypto api functions. The utility will also create keys, encrypt/decrypt files, list encryption providers, yada yada. To see how to run it type: crypto -h The code is now integrated with the plugin source. Download the plugin source to get the crypto.exe source. (8/11/2005)

http://home.comcast.net/~msrc4plugin/index.html
http://home.comcast.net/~msrc4plugin/msrc4/Crypto.zip

scovel · Post by **scovel** » 2006-01-22 02:02

Not sure what you are talking about, but there are Beta plugins on the Beta page.

Sean

win98 dsmplugin problems

win98 dsmplugin problems

Try this:

new crypto version