Microsoft Windows 8.1 NtApphelpCacheControl privileges management

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.4$0-$5k0.00

A vulnerability has been found in Microsoft Windows 8.1 (Operating System) and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function NtApphelpCacheControl. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a privileges management vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-269. The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The weakness was shared 09/30/2014 by James Forshaw with Google Project Zero as 118 as confirmed advisory (Website). The advisory is available at code.google.com. Local access is required to approach this attack. Required for exploitation is a single authentication. Technical details and also a public exploit are known. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 07/08/2017). This vulnerability is assigned to T1068 by the MITRE ATT&CK project. The advisory points out:

On Windows 8.1 update the system call NtApphelpCacheControl (the code is actually in ahcache.sys) allows application compatibility data to be cached for quick reuse when new processes are created. A normal user can query the cache but cannot add new cached entries as the operation is restricted to administrators. This is checked in the function AhcVerifyAdminContext.

After immediately, there has been an exploit disclosed. It is possible to download the exploit at google-security-research.googlecode.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. As 0-day the estimated underground price was around $100k and more. The advisory illustrates:

The PoC has been tested on Windows 8.1 update, both 32 bit and 64 bit versions. I'd recommend running on 32 bit just to be sure.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The entry 68496 is related to this item.

Productinfo

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Support

  • end of life (old version)

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB CVSS-B Score: 🔍
VulDB CVSS-BT Score: 🔍
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CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.4

VulDB Base Score: 7.8
VulDB Temp Score: 7.4
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

Class: Privileges management
CWE: CWE-269 / CWE-266
ATT&CK: T1068

Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔍
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

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Timelineinfo

09/30/2014 🔍
09/30/2014 +0 days 🔍
09/30/2014 +0 days 🔍
01/03/2015 +95 days 🔍
01/06/2015 +3 days 🔍
07/08/2017 +914 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com
Product: microsoft.com

Advisory: 118
Researcher: James Forshaw
Organization: Google Project Zero
Status: Confirmed
SecurityTracker: 1031484 - Windows Kernel Flaw in NtApphelpCacheControl() Lets Local Users Gain Elevated Privileges

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20140213
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 01/06/2015 12:33
Updated: 07/08/2017 14:18
Changes: 01/06/2015 12:33 (49), 07/08/2017 14:18 (5)
Complete: 🔍

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