CVE-2015-2362 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
Hyper-V in Microsoft Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2 does not properly initialize guest OS system data structures, which allows guest OS users to execute arbitrary code on the host OS by leveraging guest OS privileges, aka "Hyper-V System Data Structure Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2022
The Hyper-V system data structure vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Microsoft's virtualization platform that affects multiple versions of Windows operating systems. This vulnerability resides in the Hyper-V hypervisor implementation and specifically targets the initialization process of guest operating system data structures. The flaw allows malicious actors with guest OS privileges to exploit improper initialization sequences and execute arbitrary code on the host operating system, fundamentally undermining the isolation guarantees that virtualization technologies are designed to provide.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and proper initialization of system data structures within the Hyper-V environment. When guest operating systems attempt to interact with hypervisor-managed resources, the system fails to adequately verify or initialize critical data structures that bridge the guest and host environments. This improper handling creates a pathway for privilege escalation where guest users can manipulate memory layouts or system calls to gain elevated privileges on the host system. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level within the hypervisor, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses standard operating system security boundaries and access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to achieve complete compromise of the host system from within a guest environment. This creates a severe risk for cloud environments, virtualized infrastructure, and any deployment where multiple tenants share the same physical hardware. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, extract sensitive data, or use the compromised host as a launch point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects enterprise environments where virtualization is extensively used, potentially allowing attackers to compromise entire virtualized infrastructures from a single compromised guest instance.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected systems through Microsoft security updates, as well as implementation of network segmentation and monitoring controls. Organizations should implement strict access controls for virtual environments, limit guest OS privileges, and deploy intrusion detection systems that monitor for suspicious hypervisor activity. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119, which addresses improper initialization of data structures, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1055 for privilege escalation through hypervisor manipulation. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing virtualization security controls such as Hyper-V security features, disabling unnecessary virtualization capabilities, and maintaining strict audit logging of hypervisor interactions to detect potential exploitation attempts.