CVE-2013-3138 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the TCP/IP kernel-mode driver in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, and Windows RT allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (system hang) via crafted TCP packets, aka "TCP/IP Integer Overflow Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2024
The TCP/IP integer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3138 represents a critical flaw in the kernel-mode network stack implementation of multiple Microsoft Windows operating systems. This vulnerability specifically affects Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, and Windows RT systems. The flaw manifests within the TCP/IP protocol implementation where integer overflow conditions can occur during packet processing, creating a pathway for remote exploitation that results in system instability.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the improper handling of integer values during TCP packet processing within the kernel-mode driver components. When maliciously crafted TCP packets are transmitted to affected systems, the network stack fails to properly validate or constrain integer values used in packet header processing, leading to arithmetic overflow conditions. These overflow scenarios cause the system to enter an inconsistent state where normal network operations cannot proceed, ultimately resulting in system hangs or complete denial of service conditions. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, meaning that exploitation does not require local privileges and can be executed remotely by attackers positioned anywhere on the network.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to enterprise network infrastructure and system availability. Organizations running affected Windows versions face potential disruption of critical network services and applications that depend on reliable TCP connectivity. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability without requiring physical access or local user credentials, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network exposure is high. System administrators may experience unexpected service interruptions, network outages, and potential data loss during exploitation events, as the affected systems become unresponsive and require manual intervention to restore normal operations.
The vulnerability maps to CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and aligns with several ATT&CK tactics including TA0005 (Defense Evasion) and TA0040 (Execution). Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Microsoft security updates and patches that address this integer overflow condition in the TCP/IP stack. Network segmentation and firewall rules can provide temporary protection by limiting exposure to potentially malicious traffic, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual TCP packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems with signature-based detection capabilities specifically targeting this vulnerability can help identify and prevent exploitation attempts in real-time environments.