CVE-2013-6355 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The Microsoft Graphics Component in Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2, x64 Edition Service Pack 2, SP2 for Itanium-based Systems, Windows Vista Service pack 2 and x64 Edition Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2, x64-based Systems Service Pack 2, and Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2, Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1, and x64-based Systems Service Pack 1, Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1, and Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 1, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 for 32-bit Systems and x64-based Systems, Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows RT and Windows RT 8.1, and the Server Core installation option for Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service pack 2, Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2 does not properly decode JPEG images in memory, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a crafted JPEG.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-6355 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Microsoft Graphics Component that affects multiple versions of Windows operating systems spanning from Windows Server 2003 through Windows 8.1 and their respective server core installations. This issue specifically manifests in the component's improper handling of JPEG image decoding processes, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted JPEG files can trigger unexpected behavior in memory management. The flaw resides in how the graphics component processes image data during decompression, particularly when dealing with malformed or specially constructed JPEG files that exploit memory boundaries and data structures.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and boundary checking during JPEG decoding operations within the Windows Graphics Component. When processing a specially crafted JPEG image, the component fails to properly validate memory access patterns and data boundaries, potentially allowing attackers to read data from adjacent memory locations. This memory corruption behavior creates an information disclosure condition where sensitive data from system memory could be inadvertently exposed to remote attackers. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level within graphics processing components, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through various attack vectors including web browsing, email attachments, or file transfers. The flaw is classified under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read, which represents an improper validation of memory boundaries during data processing operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to enterprise environments as it enables remote code execution through information disclosure attacks. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain access to sensitive system information, potentially including credentials, encryption keys, or other confidential data stored in memory. The widespread affected platforms mean that organizations running any of the listed Windows versions are at risk, particularly those with less frequent patching cycles or legacy systems that cannot be easily updated. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require local access to the system to trigger the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for web-facing applications and services that process user-uploaded content. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for remote code execution through compromised graphics components and T1068 for privilege escalation through memory corruption vulnerabilities.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant security patches released by Microsoft through their regular security update cycle. System administrators should prioritize patching all affected Windows versions, particularly those running in enterprise environments where the risk of exploitation is highest. Network segmentation and content filtering measures can provide additional defense-in-depth layers by blocking potentially malicious JPEG files from reaching end-user systems. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual memory access patterns or suspicious image processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's nature suggests that implementing proper input validation and memory boundary checking in graphics processing components should be a standard requirement for all system components handling user-supplied data. Organizations should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify patterns consistent with exploitation attempts targeting this specific memory corruption vulnerability, as the information disclosure aspect makes it particularly valuable for attackers seeking to escalate privileges or extract sensitive data from compromised systems.