CVE-2014-2780 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
DirectShow in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2 allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging control over a low-integrity process to execute a crafted application, aka "DirectShow Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/17/2024
The CVE-2014-2780 vulnerability represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within Microsoft's DirectShow multimedia framework that affects multiple Windows operating systems including Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012. This vulnerability operates through a sophisticated privilege escalation mechanism that exploits the interaction between low-integrity processes and the DirectShow component, creating a pathway for local attackers to elevate their privileges from standard user level to system level. The flaw specifically resides in how DirectShow handles certain multimedia file processing operations, particularly when these operations are initiated by processes running with low integrity levels. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-269: "Improper Privilege Management" category, which is a fundamental weakness in software design that allows improper access control mechanisms to be exploited by malicious actors. The attack vector leverages the Windows integrity level system, where processes running at low integrity levels should be restricted from performing certain privileged operations, but DirectShow fails to properly enforce these restrictions. This represents a significant breach in the operating system's security model that undermines the core principle of least privilege enforcement.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a local attacker can manipulate a low-integrity process to load a specially crafted multimedia file or component that triggers an unsafe operation within the DirectShow framework. The flaw manifests when DirectShow attempts to process certain media files or components that contain malicious code or crafted data structures, which then allows the low-integrity process to execute code with elevated privileges. This typically involves manipulating the way DirectShow loads and processes multimedia filters or codecs, potentially through specially crafted media files or by exploiting improper validation of input parameters. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited by any local user who can run a low-integrity process, making it accessible to attackers who may have already compromised a system through other means or who can simply log in as a standard user. The attack requires minimal privileges initially but can result in complete system compromise, as the exploited process gains the ability to execute arbitrary code at system level with full administrative privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-2780 is severe and far-reaching, as it provides attackers with a reliable method for achieving system-level compromise without requiring physical access or complex attack chains. Once exploited, this vulnerability allows attackers to bypass the normal Windows security model, potentially enabling them to install malicious software, modify system files, access sensitive data, and establish persistence mechanisms that can survive system reboots. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where standard users may have access to systems that could be exploited through this method, potentially allowing attackers to move laterally through networks or gain access to critical infrastructure. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as privilege escalation through exploitation of software vulnerabilities and persistence mechanisms that can be established through system-level access. The vulnerability also aligns with the concept of "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" in the MITRE ATT&CK matrix, where attackers leverage application-level flaws to gain elevated system privileges. Organizations running affected versions of Windows are particularly vulnerable to this attack, as it can be exploited through various legitimate multimedia applications that utilize DirectShow, making detection and prevention challenging.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2780 should focus on both immediate patching and operational security measures to reduce the attack surface. Microsoft released security updates for all affected operating systems, and organizations should ensure these patches are deployed immediately to remediate the vulnerability. System administrators should also implement additional security controls such as restricting the execution of multimedia applications from untrusted sources, implementing application whitelisting policies, and monitoring for unusual DirectShow-related activity. Network segmentation and privilege minimization should be enforced to limit the potential impact if an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar issues in their multimedia processing frameworks and ensure that all multimedia applications are running with the minimum required privileges. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the need for comprehensive security monitoring that can detect anomalous behavior related to privilege escalation attempts. Regular security awareness training for users should also emphasize the risks of executing untrusted multimedia content, as social engineering attacks may attempt to leverage this vulnerability through malicious media files.