CVE-2012-0149 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
afd.sys in the Ancillary Function Driver in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2 does not properly validate user-mode input passed to kernel mode, which allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Ancillary Function Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0149 resides within the afd.sys driver component of Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2, specifically targeting the Ancillary Function Driver functionality. This driver serves as a critical interface between user-mode applications and kernel-mode system components, facilitating network communication operations and socket management. The flaw manifests in the driver's insufficient validation mechanisms when processing user-mode input data that gets passed into kernel space, creating a dangerous pathway for privilege escalation attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the kernel-mode driver code. When user applications submit crafted data through the Ancillary Function Driver interface, the afd.sys component fails to adequately verify the legitimacy and safety of this input before executing kernel-level operations. This validation gap allows malicious applications to construct specially formatted input that, when processed by the driver, triggers unexpected behavior within kernel memory spaces. The vulnerability specifically affects how the driver handles certain IOCTL (Input/Output Control) operations, where user-supplied parameters are directly used without sufficient sanitization or bounds checking.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant security risk as it enables local privilege escalation attacks that can elevate a standard user account to system-level privileges. Attackers exploiting this flaw can leverage the vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources, modify critical system files, and potentially establish persistent access mechanisms within the compromised environment. The attack vector requires local system access, making it particularly concerning for environments where privilege separation is not properly enforced. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and also aligns with CWE-787, encompassing out-of-bounds writes in kernel-mode components.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate privilege escalation, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability affects Windows Server 2003 systems that have not received the relevant security patches, making it particularly dangerous in legacy environments where system upgrades are not feasible. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious applications that can trigger the driver's vulnerable code paths, potentially requiring minimal user interaction beyond executing the malicious software.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0149 should prioritize immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's security updates, specifically addressing the kernel-mode driver validation issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious kernel-mode activities and establish robust privilege separation policies to minimize the impact of potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices in kernel-mode drivers, emphasizing the need for comprehensive input validation and proper bounds checking. System administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as driver signature enforcement and restricted user account privileges to reduce the attack surface. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date system security patches and the potential consequences of running unsupported operating systems in enterprise environments, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through kernel exploits.