CVE-2012-0178 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
Race condition in partmgr.sys in Windows Partition Manager in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2, R2, and R2 SP1, and Windows 7 Gold and SP1 allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application that makes multiple simultaneous Plug and Play (PnP) Configuration Manager function calls, aka "Plug and Play (PnP) Configuration Manager Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0178 represents a critical race condition within the Windows Partition Manager component, specifically in the partmgr.sys driver that handles partition management operations. This flaw exists in multiple Windows operating systems including Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2, Windows 7 Gold and SP1, making it a widespread issue affecting enterprise and consumer environments alike. The vulnerability stems from improper synchronization mechanisms within the Plug and Play Configuration Manager functions that manage hardware device enumeration and configuration processes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a race condition scenario where a malicious local user can craft an application that simultaneously invokes multiple Plug and Play Configuration Manager function calls. This concurrent access pattern creates a timing window where the partition manager's internal state becomes inconsistent, allowing the attacker to manipulate memory structures and potentially escalate privileges from standard user level to SYSTEM level access. The underlying flaw resides in the lack of proper mutual exclusion controls during critical sections of code that handle device configuration operations, specifically when dealing with partition management tasks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables local privilege escalation attacks that can be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may have legitimate access to systems but should not possess administrative privileges. The attack vector requires local system access, making it feasible for malicious insiders or attackers who have already compromised a system to elevate their privileges and gain full control over the affected machine. The vulnerability can be exploited without requiring network access or special privileges beyond what a standard user might already possess, making it a significant concern for organizations with less strict access controls.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including privilege escalation through abuse of process and system permissions, specifically targeting the T1068 privilege escalation technique. From a CWE perspective, this represents a classic race condition vulnerability classified as CWE-362, which describes the condition where two or more threads or processes access shared resources concurrently without proper synchronization. The attack pattern follows the typical local privilege escalation methodology where a low-privilege user leverages a flaw in kernel-mode drivers to gain elevated privileges. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Microsoft security updates, restricting local user access where possible, and monitoring for unusual Plug and Play related system activity. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper kernel-mode synchronization mechanisms and highlights the risks associated with legacy driver code that may not have been adequately tested for concurrent access scenarios.