CVE-2015-0012 in System Center Virtual Machine Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) 2012 R2 Update Rollup 4 does not properly validate the roles of users, which allows local users to obtain server and virtual-machine administrative privileges by establishing a server session with Active Directory credentials, aka "Virtual Machine Manager Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0012 affects Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 R2 Update Rollup 4, representing a critical elevation of privilege flaw that undermines the security model of virtual infrastructure management. This issue stems from insufficient user role validation mechanisms within the VMM component, creating a pathway for unauthorized privilege escalation. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication and authorization processes that govern how user credentials are processed and validated within the virtual machine management environment.
The technical flaw manifests through a weakness in the Active Directory credential handling process where local users can exploit a session establishment mechanism to bypass normal access controls. When a user establishes a server session using Active Directory credentials, the system fails to properly verify the user's actual privileges and roles, allowing arbitrary local users to assume administrative responsibilities for both server and virtual machine operations. This represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability where insufficient input validation and role verification creates an attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors within the local system boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of the virtualization management infrastructure. An attacker who gains access to a local account can leverage this vulnerability to obtain administrative control over virtual machines and underlying server resources, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on System Center Virtual Machine Manager for their virtual infrastructure management, creating risks for data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. This flaw enables attackers to perform actions such as creating, modifying, or deleting virtual machines, accessing sensitive data, and potentially establishing persistent access points within the virtual environment.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the official Microsoft security update that addresses this vulnerability, reviewing and strengthening Active Directory credential policies, and implementing additional access controls such as network segmentation and privilege monitoring. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues in software systems, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through exploitation of system vulnerabilities. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring for unusual authentication patterns and session establishment activities within their virtualization environments to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include regular security assessments of virtualization management components, implementation of principle of least privilege access controls, and maintaining up-to-date security patches across all virtual infrastructure management systems to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited.