CVE-2015-0076 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The photo-decoder implementation in Microsoft 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 initialize memory for rendering of JXR images, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from process memory via a crafted web site, aka "JPEG XR Parser Information Disclosure Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0076 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Microsoft's Windows operating systems, specifically affecting the photo-decoder implementation responsible for processing JPEG XR (JXR) image format files. This vulnerability resides in the Windows imaging components that handle the decoding and rendering of JXR images, which are also known as Windows Media Photo format images. The flaw manifests when the system processes maliciously crafted JXR images through web browsers or other applications that utilize the Windows imaging stack, creating a potential attack vector for remote threat actors to extract sensitive data from system memory.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper memory initialization within the JXR parser implementation. When processing JXR image files, the decoder fails to properly initialize memory buffers before rendering the image content, leaving uninitialized memory regions that may contain remnants of previous data or system information. This memory initialization flaw creates a situation where attackers can craft specially designed JXR images that, when processed by vulnerable systems, cause the decoder to expose portions of process memory containing sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other confidential data. The vulnerability specifically affects Microsoft 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, indicating a widespread impact across multiple Windows generations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant security risks as it enables remote code execution through information disclosure, allowing attackers to gather sensitive data from compromised systems. The attack requires a victim to view a maliciously crafted web page containing the specially constructed JXR image, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or compromised websites. The information disclosure can potentially expose cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other sensitive data that could be leveraged for further attacks, including privilege escalation or lateral movement within networks. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-128: Unsigned to Signed Conversion Error, which describes the improper handling of memory initialization in image processing components, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter execution through web-based attacks.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it provides attackers with potential access to process memory contents that may include system credentials, application data, or other confidential information. Attackers can exploit this weakness by hosting malicious JXR images on compromised web servers or embedding them in malicious websites, requiring no special privileges or authentication to exploit. The vulnerability's remote nature and the widespread adoption of affected Windows versions make it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where numerous systems may be vulnerable. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation, web application firewalls, and browser security controls to mitigate the risk of exploitation, while also prioritizing patch deployment for all affected systems to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information through this memory disclosure vulnerability.