CVE-2009-1925 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The TCP/IP implementation in Microsoft Windows Vista Gold, SP1, and SP2 and Server 2008 Gold and SP2 does not properly manage state information, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by sending packets to a listening service, and thereby triggering misinterpretation of an unspecified field as a function pointer, aka "TCP/IP Timestamps Code Execution Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-1925 represents a critical flaw in the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol stack implementation within Microsoft Windows operating systems. This issue affects Windows Vista across all service packs and Windows Server 2008 across its service pack versions, making it a widespread concern for enterprise environments. The vulnerability stems from improper management of state information within the TCP/IP protocol implementation, creating a condition where maliciously crafted network packets can trigger unexpected behavior in the system's network processing mechanisms.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability involves the misinterpretation of an unspecified field within TCP/IP timestamp handling mechanisms. When a listening service receives specially crafted packets, the system's TCP/IP stack incorrectly processes timestamp information, leading to what appears to be a function pointer misinterpretation. This misinterpretation occurs during the normal processing of TCP packets, specifically when the system encounters timestamp options in TCP segments. The flaw manifests as the system treating certain memory locations containing timestamp data as executable function pointers, which creates an opportunity for arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption flaws that can be exploited through network-based attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it enables remote code execution without requiring any authentication or local access. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the network by simply sending specially crafted TCP packets to a target system running the affected Windows versions. The vulnerability affects all listening services on the target system, making it particularly dangerous for servers and network appliances that expose services to external networks. This remote exploit capability means that systems can be compromised without any user interaction, making detection and prevention more challenging. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1210 which describes exploitation of remote services, and represents a classic example of a network-based privilege escalation vector.
The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that it operates at the protocol level, making it difficult to detect through traditional application-level security measures. The affected systems must be running the vulnerable versions of Windows Vista or Server 2008, and the target service must be actively listening on a network port for the attack to succeed. Network administrators should note that this vulnerability affects systems regardless of firewall configurations, as the attack occurs during the normal TCP packet processing phase. The flaw demonstrates the critical importance of proper state management in protocol implementations and highlights the potential for seemingly benign network operations to create serious security risks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch application from Microsoft, as the vendor released security updates specifically addressing this flaw. Organizations should prioritize deployment of the relevant security patches across all affected systems, particularly those running server roles or systems with exposed network services. Network segmentation and access control measures can provide additional defense-in-depth, limiting the potential attack surface. System monitoring should include detection of unusual TCP packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining current security patches and following secure coding practices in network protocol implementations. This flaw serves as a reminder that protocol-level vulnerabilities can have devastating consequences and require careful attention to state management and memory handling in system implementations. The vulnerability's classification under CWE 125 (Out-of-bounds Read) and its exploitation patterns align with common attack vectors targeting network protocol stacks.