CVE-2015-0075 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The kernel in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, and Windows 7 SP1 does not properly constrain impersonation levels, which allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Impersonation Level Check Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2022
This vulnerability resides in the kernel implementation of multiple microsoft windows operating systems including windows server 2003 sp2 windows vista sp2 windows server 2008 sp2 and r2 sp1 and windows 7 sp1. the flaw specifically relates to improper handling of impersonation levels within the kernel security model. when an application attempts to impersonate another user context the kernel should enforce strict validation of the impersonation level to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation. however this vulnerability allows local attackers to craft malicious applications that can bypass these security checks and elevate their privileges to higher levels than permitted by the system's access control mechanisms. the issue stems from insufficient validation of impersonation tokens and their associated security attributes within the kernel's security subsystem.
the technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of impersonation levels during process execution. when a process attempts to impersonate another user account the kernel verifies the impersonation level against the calling process's security context. in this case the kernel fails to properly enforce these constraints, allowing a local user to create a crafted application that can escalate its privileges. the vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the kernel level where security boundaries are most critical. attackers can leverage this flaw to transition from a standard user account to a higher privilege level such as system or administrator access. this represents a classic elevation of privilege vulnerability that can be exploited by local users without requiring remote access or specialized network conditions.
the operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations running affected windows versions. local privilege escalation vulnerabilities are particularly concerning because they can be exploited by any user who has access to the system, including malicious insiders or compromised accounts. once an attacker successfully elevates privileges they can access sensitive system resources, modify critical files, install malware, and potentially establish persistent access. the vulnerability affects enterprise environments where multiple users share systems and where the default security model relies on proper impersonation level enforcement. organizations using windows server 2003 and vista are particularly at risk since these systems are no longer supported with security updates, making them vulnerable to exploitation. the attack surface is broad as the vulnerability affects multiple operating system versions that were widely deployed in enterprise environments.
mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include applying the microsoft security update released as part of the windows security bulletin ms15-011. organizations should prioritize patching affected systems immediately, particularly those running unsupported operating systems. for systems where patching is not immediately feasible, administrators can implement additional security controls such as restricting local user access to system resources and monitoring for suspicious impersonation activities. the vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumeration cw 256 which describes improper restriction of operations within a security domain, and maps to attack technique t1068 in the attack framework which covers privilege escalation through exploitation of system vulnerabilities. organizations should also consider implementing least privilege principles and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar kernel-level security flaws that could be exploited for privilege escalation.
this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper kernel-level security implementation and the potential consequences of inadequate privilege enforcement mechanisms. the flaw represents a fundamental breakdown in windows security model where the kernel fails to properly validate impersonation level constraints that are essential for maintaining security boundaries between user contexts. the impact extends beyond individual systems to potentially compromise entire network environments where compromised systems could be used as launch points for further attacks. organizations should recognize that kernel-level vulnerabilities like this one are particularly dangerous because they operate below the level of traditional application security controls and can be exploited to subvert the entire operating system security architecture. the vulnerability serves as a reminder of the need for continuous security assessment and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all system components.