CVE-2015-1644 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 constrain impersonation levels, which allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Windows MS-DOS Device Name Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1644 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw in multiple Microsoft Windows operating systems including Windows Server 2003 through Windows 8.1. This issue stems from improper handling of impersonation levels within the Windows operating system, specifically affecting how the system manages device names and security contexts during process execution. The vulnerability allows local attackers to craft malicious applications that can manipulate the impersonation level of processes, thereby enabling them to elevate their privileges from standard user to system level access. This flaw operates at the kernel level and exploits the fundamental security mechanisms that govern how Windows handles device name resolution and process impersonation.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the way Windows handles MS-DOS device names and their associated security contexts during process execution. When applications attempt to access device names through the Windows kernel, the system fails to properly validate or constrain the impersonation levels that are applied to these operations. This improper validation allows malicious applications to manipulate the security context in which device operations occur, effectively bypassing normal access controls. The vulnerability specifically affects the Windows kernel's device name handling routines and occurs when the system processes device names that contain certain patterns or sequences that can be manipulated by local users. The flaw is categorized under CWE-264 as a privilege escalation vulnerability, specifically involving improper control of a resource through manipulation of the system's security model.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1644 is significant as it provides local attackers with a straightforward method to achieve system-level privileges without requiring external network access or complex exploitation techniques. Once an attacker gains local access to a vulnerable system, they can execute a crafted application that manipulates the impersonation levels to gain elevated privileges. This vulnerability can be exploited in various scenarios including corporate environments where users might inadvertently run malicious software, or during penetration testing activities where local access is obtained through other means. The attack requires only local system access and can be executed without user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users have standard accounts but may be targeted for privilege escalation. The vulnerability can be leveraged to establish persistent access, escalate privileges for further exploitation, or to gain access to sensitive system resources and data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1644 should focus on both immediate patching and operational security measures. Microsoft released security updates that address this vulnerability through proper validation of impersonation levels and enhanced device name handling within the Windows kernel. Organizations should prioritize applying the relevant security patches from Microsoft as soon as possible, particularly for systems that are not running the latest supported versions. Additionally, implementing operational security measures such as limiting local user access, monitoring for unusual process execution patterns, and applying least privilege principles can help reduce the attack surface. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1068 (Local Privilege Escalation) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) as attackers can use this vulnerability to execute malicious code with elevated privileges. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring for suspicious device name access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for systems running vulnerable Windows versions to ensure proper remediation has been implemented.