CVE-2015-0061 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, and Windows RT Gold and 8.1 do not properly initialize memory for TIFF images, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from process memory via a crafted image file, aka "TIFF Processing Information Disclosure Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0061 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Microsoft Windows operating systems that affects a broad range of platforms including Windows Server 2003 through Windows 8.1 and their respective service packs. This weakness specifically manifests in the handling of Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) image processing components, where the operating system fails to properly initialize memory structures when parsing TIFF files. The flaw enables remote attackers to craft malicious TIFF image files that, when processed by the affected systems, can cause sensitive information to be leaked from process memory spaces.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper memory initialization during TIFF image parsing operations, which creates potential for information leakage through memory corruption patterns. When a vulnerable system processes a specially crafted TIFF file, the uninitialized memory regions may contain residual data from previous operations, including credentials, encryption keys, or other sensitive information that was previously stored in those memory locations. This memory disclosure occurs because the TIFF parser does not adequately clear or initialize memory buffers before processing image data, allowing attackers to potentially extract confidential information from the system's memory space. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 as an "Out-of-Bounds Read" condition where the system reads from memory locations that have not been properly initialized or cleared.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on Windows systems for image processing tasks, particularly in environments where users might encounter untrusted TIFF files through email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing systems. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious TIFF files that, when opened by vulnerable applications or viewed through Windows image handlers, cause the system to leak process memory contents. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked memory might contain authentication tokens, session data, or other sensitive information that could be leveraged for further attacks. This vulnerability particularly affects systems where TIFF files are frequently processed or where users interact with untrusted image content, making it a prime target for reconnaissance and privilege escalation attacks.
The exploitation of CVE-2015-0061 aligns with several techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the Information Gathering and Credential Access domains. The vulnerability enables adversaries to perform memory scraping operations that can reveal sensitive data stored in process memory, potentially including cached credentials, encryption keys, or application-specific data. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management strategies to address this vulnerability, as Microsoft released security updates for all affected Windows versions. Additional mitigations include restricting user access to image processing capabilities, implementing strict file validation policies for TIFF files, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious TIFF file patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management practices in system components and highlights the need for thorough security testing of image processing libraries and file format parsers.