CVE-2015-0074 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Font Driver in 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 does not properly allocate memory, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted (1) web site or (2) file, aka "Adobe Font Driver Denial of Service Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0074 represents a critical memory allocation flaw within the Adobe Font Driver component of Microsoft Windows operating systems. This issue affects a broad range of Windows versions including server and client operating systems from Windows Server 2003 through Windows 8.1, making it particularly concerning from a security perspective. The flaw resides in how the system handles memory allocation when processing font data, creating a potential vector for remote exploitation that could severely impact system availability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the Adobe Font Driver module. When the system processes crafted font files or web content containing malicious font data, the driver fails to correctly allocate memory resources, leading to potential memory corruption or exhaustion. This memory allocation failure creates conditions where an attacker can craft specific font content that, when processed by the vulnerable system, triggers a denial of service condition. The vulnerability manifests through two primary attack vectors: malicious websites that serve compromised font content and directly malicious files that, when opened, trigger the vulnerable driver.
From an operational impact standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments where Windows systems are widely deployed. The denial of service condition can render affected systems unusable, potentially causing business disruption and requiring system restarts to restore functionality. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability without requiring local access to the target systems, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments. Organizations with extensive Windows deployments face considerable risk, as the vulnerability affects multiple generations of Microsoft operating systems and could be exploited through various attack surfaces including web browsers, email clients, and file sharing systems.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of length of input buffers, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with memory corruption vulnerabilities that can lead to denial of service conditions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability would be categorized under initial access and privilege escalation tactics, as attackers could potentially leverage this weakness to establish persistent access or disrupt critical services. The attack surface is particularly broad given the widespread use of Adobe Font Driver across Microsoft Windows platforms, making this vulnerability attractive to threat actors seeking to disrupt operations or establish footholds within targeted environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches, which address the underlying memory allocation issues in the Adobe Font Driver component. System administrators should prioritize patching across all affected Windows versions, particularly in enterprise environments where the risk of exploitation is highest. Network segmentation and web filtering measures can provide additional defense-in-depth, helping to prevent users from accessing malicious content that could trigger the vulnerability. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual memory consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining unpatched systems within the organization's infrastructure.