CVE-2010-4588 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The WBEMSingleView.ocx ActiveX control 1.50.1131.0 in Microsoft WMI Administrative Tools 1.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted argument to the ReleaseContext method, a different vector than CVE-2010-3973, possibly an untrusted pointer dereference.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4588 represents a critical security flaw in the WBEMSingleView.ocx ActiveX control version 1.50.1131.0 that is part of Microsoft WMI Administrative Tools 1.1 and earlier versions. This ActiveX control is designed to provide administrative interfaces for Windows Management Instrumentation functionality, enabling remote management and monitoring of Windows systems through web-based interfaces. The flaw specifically resides within the ReleaseContext method of this control, which processes user-supplied arguments without adequate validation or sanitization. The vulnerability stems from an untrusted pointer dereference condition that occurs when the control handles malformed input parameters, creating a potential pathway for arbitrary code execution on affected systems. This issue is particularly concerning because ActiveX controls are commonly executed in web browsers with elevated privileges, making them attractive targets for exploitation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read errors. The untrusted pointer dereference represents a classic software security weakness where the application fails to properly validate input data before using it to access memory locations. When a remote attacker crafts a malicious argument for the ReleaseContext method, the ActiveX control processes this input without sufficient bounds checking, potentially causing the application to access memory outside of its allocated boundaries. This condition can be exploited to overwrite memory contents with attacker-controlled data, leading to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability's classification as an untrusted pointer dereference indicates that the control does not properly validate the legitimacy of pointers received from external sources, which is a fundamental security principle in memory safety.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to enterprise environments that utilize Microsoft WMI Administrative Tools for system management and monitoring. Organizations that have not patched this vulnerability remain exposed to remote code execution attacks that could be leveraged by threat actors to gain unauthorized access to their systems. The attack vector involves delivering a malicious web page containing the crafted ActiveX control invocation, which would then execute in the context of the user's browser session. Given that ActiveX controls often run with the privileges of the logged-in user, successful exploitation could lead to privilege escalation scenarios. The impact extends beyond individual system compromise as attackers could use this vulnerability to establish persistent access, deploy malware, or conduct reconnaissance activities within the network. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where WMI tools are used for remote administration, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit administrative interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4588 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Microsoft, as the vendor has released security updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should also implement browser security configurations that restrict ActiveX control execution, particularly in environments where ActiveX is not essential for legitimate business operations. The principle of least privilege should be applied by ensuring that users have minimal necessary permissions when accessing WMI administrative tools. Network segmentation and firewall rules can help limit the potential impact of exploitation by restricting access to WMI services to trusted administrative networks. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies that only permit execution of known good ActiveX controls can prevent unauthorized code execution. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in WMI-related network traffic or system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider disabling ActiveX controls entirely in web browsers where they are not required, as this provides a complete defense against such vulnerabilities while maintaining operational functionality through alternative management interfaces.