CVE-2015-2478 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, Windows RT Gold and 8.1, and Windows 10 Gold and 1511 allow local users to gain privileges via a crafted application that triggers a Winsock call referencing an invalid address, aka "Winsock Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2024
The CVE-2015-2478 vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Microsoft Windows operating systems spanning multiple versions including Vista SP2 through Windows 10 1511. This vulnerability specifically targets the Windows Sockets API implementation and allows local attackers to elevate their privileges from standard user level to system level through carefully crafted malicious applications. The vulnerability operates by exploiting improper validation of network address parameters during Winsock API calls, creating a pathway for unauthorized privilege escalation that could potentially compromise entire systems.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the Windows Winsock subsystem failing to properly validate memory addresses when processing socket operations. When a malicious application triggers a Winsock call referencing an invalid memory address, the system's memory management routines can be manipulated to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. This flaw falls under the category of improper input validation and memory corruption issues that are commonly classified as CWE-125 in the Common Weakness Enumeration system. The vulnerability specifically affects the Windows kernel's handling of socket operations and demonstrates a failure in proper address validation during network communication processing.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to enterprise environments as it requires only local system access to exploit, meaning that any user with standard login privileges could potentially leverage this flaw to gain complete system control. The impact extends beyond individual machines to potentially compromise entire network infrastructures, as attackers could establish persistent backdoors and move laterally across networks once system-level privileges are obtained. The vulnerability's exploitation typically occurs through the execution of specially crafted applications that trigger the problematic Winsock API calls, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users have the ability to execute arbitrary code or where legitimate applications might be compromised.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Microsoft security patches released in May 2015 as part of the security update cycle. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as mandatory access controls, application whitelisting, and monitoring for suspicious Winsock API usage patterns. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through local exploits, and organizations should review their incident response procedures to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be reinforced to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify systems that may not have received the necessary patches. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of timely patch management and the potential consequences of local privilege escalation vulnerabilities in modern enterprise security environments.