CVE-2015-2429 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
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 allow attackers to bypass an application sandbox protection mechanism and perform unspecified registry actions via a crafted application, aka "Windows Registry Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw in Microsoft Windows operating systems that affects multiple versions including 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. The vulnerability specifically targets the application sandbox protection mechanisms that are designed to isolate applications from critical system resources and registry areas. Attackers can exploit this weakness to bypass these sandbox protections and perform unauthorized registry operations that would normally be restricted to privileged processes or administrators. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate registry entries that control system behavior, application permissions, and security settings without proper authorization. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the kernel level where registry modifications can have far-reaching consequences for system integrity and security posture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of registry access permissions within the Windows kernel. When applications attempt to access registry keys, the operating system should enforce strict access controls based on user privileges and security contexts. However, this flaw allows malicious applications to manipulate the registry access control lists or exploit timing windows in the permission checking process. The vulnerability can be triggered through a specially crafted application that leverages specific registry operations to escalate privileges. This type of flaw typically falls under CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and may also relate to CWE-264, concerning permissions, privileges, and access controls. The registry operations that are being improperly allowed include modifications to system-critical registry keys that control security policies, service configurations, and application access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted across enterprise environments. Successful exploitation allows attackers to elevate their privileges from standard user level to system administrator level, providing complete control over affected systems. Attackers can modify registry entries to disable security features such as Windows Defender, disable Windows Update, or modify security policies that protect against other attacks. The vulnerability can be leveraged to establish persistent backdoors by modifying registry entries that control system startup processes or service configurations. Additionally, attackers can use this privilege escalation to modify security settings that would normally prevent other types of attacks, creating a cascade of security compromises. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK tactics including privilege escalation and persistence, making it a significant concern for cybersecurity teams defending against advanced persistent threats.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch deployment as the primary defense mechanism, since Microsoft released patches for this specific vulnerability in their regular security updates. Organizations should implement comprehensive registry monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized registry modifications, particularly to system-critical keys such as those under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can provide additional defense-in-depth layers to prevent exploitation attempts. Security teams should also implement regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify potential exploitation vectors. The registry access controls should be reviewed and hardened through group policy configurations that limit registry access permissions for standard users and implement stricter access controls for system-critical registry areas. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all affected systems, as this vulnerability has been widely exploited in the wild and represents a significant risk to enterprise security infrastructure.