CVE-2006-0143 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Windows Graphics Rendering Engine (GRE) allows remote attackers to corrupt memory and cause a denial of service (crash) via a WMF file containing (1) ExtCreateRegion or (2) ExtEscape function calls with arguments with inconsistent lengths.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0143 resides within Microsoft Windows Graphics Rendering Engine which serves as the core component responsible for processing and rendering graphics within the operating system. This engine handles various graphic file formats including Windows Metafile (WMF) files that are commonly used for vector graphics and document formatting. The flaw specifically manifests when the system processes WMF files containing malformed ExtCreateRegion or ExtEscape function calls with inconsistent argument lengths. These function calls represent critical components within the Windows graphics subsystem that manage region definitions and escape sequences for specialized graphics operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through careful crafting of WMF files that contain malformed function calls where the expected argument lengths do not match the actual data provided. When the Windows Graphics Rendering Engine attempts to parse these inconsistent arguments, memory corruption occurs due to improper bounds checking and buffer management within the parsing routines. The inconsistency in argument lengths causes the system to either read beyond allocated memory boundaries or write to invalid memory locations, resulting in unpredictable behavior and ultimately system crashes. This memory corruption vulnerability directly relates to CWE-121 which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125 which covers out-of-bounds read errors in memory management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service as it represents a potential vector for more sophisticated attacks. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to cause system instability through repeated exploitation, leading to persistent service disruptions that affect user productivity and system availability. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Windows including Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where these operating systems were commonly deployed. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability results in complete system crashes requiring manual restarts and potentially allowing attackers to disrupt critical business operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the official Microsoft security patches released in response to this CVE. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of the Windows Update patches that address the memory handling issues within the Graphics Rendering Engine. Additionally, implementing defensive measures such as restricting user access to WMF file processing through application whitelisting and content filtering can provide additional layers of protection. Network administrators should consider implementing email filtering rules that block suspicious WMF attachments and disable automatic rendering of graphics files in web browsers. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving privilege escalation and denial of service through system instability, making it a critical component in comprehensive security defense strategies. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in graphics processing components, highlighting the need for robust code review processes and security testing for system-level libraries.