CVE-2006-1315 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The Server Service (SRV.SYS driver) in Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP1 and SP2, Server 2003 up to SP1, and other products, allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via crafted requests that leak information in SMB buffers, which are not properly initialized, aka "SMB Information Disclosure Vulnerability."
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2025
The SMB Information Disclosure Vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1315 represents a critical security flaw within Microsoft Windows operating systems that affects a wide range of products including Windows 2000 Service Pack 4, Windows XP Service Packs 1 and 2, Windows Server 2003 up to Service Pack 1, and related server products. This vulnerability specifically targets the Server Service component that operates through the SRV.SYS driver, which is responsible for handling Server Message Block protocol requests. The flaw exists in how the system processes incoming SMB requests and manages memory buffers, creating an information leakage scenario that can be exploited by remote attackers without authentication. The vulnerability stems from improper initialization of SMB buffers, which means that when the system receives crafted requests, it fails to properly clear or reset memory areas before processing the incoming data. This results in the exposure of sensitive information that may have been previously stored in those memory locations, including potentially confidential data, system state information, or remnants of previously processed requests.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves sending specially crafted SMB requests to the target system, where the Server Service processes these requests through the vulnerable SRV.SYS driver. When the system receives these malformed requests, it fails to properly initialize the SMB buffers before storing or processing the incoming data. This buffer initialization failure allows attackers to potentially read residual data from memory locations that were previously used for other operations, effectively creating a data leakage mechanism. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring any authentication credentials, making it accessible to attackers anywhere on the network. The leaked information may include sensitive data such as system memory contents, user credentials, application data, or other confidential information that was previously stored in the uninitialized buffers, potentially providing attackers with valuable insights into the system's internal state and operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates opportunities for more sophisticated attacks that can leverage the leaked information for further exploitation. Attackers can potentially use the disclosed information to conduct targeted attacks against specific system components, identify system configurations, or gather intelligence for privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability affects systems that are configured to accept SMB connections, which includes most Windows servers and workstations that are part of corporate networks, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple systems may be exposed to network traffic. Organizations running affected versions of Windows are at risk of having their internal system information exposed to unauthorized parties, which could lead to cascading security issues including credential theft, system compromise, or targeted attacks against other network resources. The vulnerability also demonstrates a fundamental flaw in memory management practices within the Windows Server Service implementation, highlighting potential security weaknesses in how the system handles buffer operations and memory initialization.
Microsoft addressed this vulnerability through security updates released as part of their regular patching cycle, with the specific fix being included in the Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-015. Organizations should ensure they have applied the appropriate security patches to protect against this vulnerability, as the risk of exploitation remains significant for unpatched systems. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-128, which describes the weakness of "Wrap-around or Overflow in Buffer" and relates to improper initialization of memory buffers. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability corresponds to techniques involving information gathering and reconnaissance activities, specifically T1082 for system information discovery and T1592 for reconnaissance using information discovery techniques. The vulnerability also represents a classic example of how buffer management flaws can lead to information disclosure, which is a common attack vector in network security and forms part of the broader category of memory corruption vulnerabilities that attackers frequently target in enterprise environments. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, while also ensuring that all systems are kept up to date with the latest security patches to prevent exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities.