CVE-2015-0079 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) implementation in Microsoft Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption and RDP outage) by establishing many RDP sessions that do not properly free allocated memory, aka "Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Denial of Service Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2024
The CVE-2015-0079 vulnerability represents a critical denial of service flaw within Microsoft Windows operating systems that affects RDP implementations across multiple platforms including Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2. This vulnerability operates through a memory management issue where malicious actors can establish numerous RDP sessions that fail to properly release allocated memory resources, leading to system instability and complete service outages. The flaw specifically targets the RDP protocol's session handling mechanism, creating a scenario where legitimate system resources become exhausted through improper memory deallocation practices.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the inherent design of RDP session management within Windows operating systems. When attackers establish multiple RDP connections without proper session termination, the system's memory allocation mechanisms become overwhelmed as they continuously allocate resources for each session while failing to release them appropriately. This memory leak pattern ultimately consumes all available memory resources, forcing the RDP service to become unresponsive and causing complete denial of service conditions that affect legitimate users attempting to access systems through RDP protocols. The vulnerability operates at the protocol level and demonstrates a fundamental flaw in resource management that has been classified under CWE-400 as an unchecked resource allocation issue.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0079 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader security and business continuity concerns. Organizations relying on RDP for remote administration and access face significant operational risks when this vulnerability is exploited, as it can render critical systems inaccessible to authorized personnel while potentially allowing attackers to maintain persistent access through other vectors. The vulnerability's exploitation directly impacts the availability component of the CIA triad, creating conditions where legitimate users cannot access systems through the primary remote access mechanism. Additionally, the memory consumption patterns can lead to system crashes, requiring manual intervention and system restarts that disrupt business operations and may require extensive troubleshooting to resolve.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-0079 should encompass both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Microsoft released security updates that address the memory management issues within RDP implementations, and organizations must ensure these patches are deployed promptly across all affected systems. Network-level protections including firewall rules that limit RDP access to trusted IP addresses and implementation of multi-factor authentication can reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1110 for credential access and T1499 for endpoint denial of service, making layered security approaches essential. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions that detect unusual RDP session patterns and memory consumption spikes that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and reducing RDP exposure through jump servers or VPNs can minimize the risk of successful exploitation while maintaining necessary remote access capabilities for legitimate administrative functions.