CVE-2015-2548 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the Tablet Input Band in Windows Shell in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2 and Windows 7 SP1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted web site, aka "Microsoft Tablet Input Band Use After Free Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2548 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within the Tablet Input Band component of Windows Shell in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2 and Windows 7 SP1 operating systems. This vulnerability resides in the tablet input handling mechanism that processes touch and stylus input for tablet computers and convertible devices. The Tablet Input Band serves as a crucial interface component that manages input from digitizers and touchscreens, making it a prime target for exploitation in modern computing environments where touch interfaces are increasingly prevalent. The flaw specifically manifests in the improper memory management practices of the input processing subsystem, creating conditions where freed memory blocks can be accessed and manipulated by malicious code.
This use-after-free vulnerability occurs when the Tablet Input Band component fails to properly validate or manage memory references after objects have been deallocated from memory. The technical implementation involves a scenario where a web page or malicious website constructs specially crafted input sequences that trigger the execution of code within the tablet input processing context. When the system processes these crafted inputs, it inadvertently causes memory to be freed while references to that memory remain active in the processing pipeline. Attackers can leverage this condition to overwrite memory contents with malicious payloads, effectively achieving arbitrary code execution privileges within the context of the Windows Shell process. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within a high-privilege execution context, allowing attackers to bypass standard security boundaries and escalate their privileges within the operating system.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2548 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it represents a significant threat to enterprise security environments where Windows 7 and Vista systems remain operational. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can compromise systems simply by convincing users to visit malicious websites, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns and targeted attacks against organizations. The attack vector through web browsers exploits the trust relationship between web content and system components, allowing adversaries to leverage the Tablet Input Band functionality as an attack surface for privilege escalation. This vulnerability affects not only individual users but also enterprise environments where tablet-enabled devices and convertible laptops are common, potentially providing attackers with persistent access to corporate networks through compromised endpoints.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-2548 should prioritize immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's security updates, as the vulnerability has been addressed through official Microsoft security bulletins. Organizations should implement network-based protections including web filtering solutions that can identify and block malicious content targeting this specific vulnerability. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of untrusted code within the Windows Shell environment, while monitoring for unusual patterns of memory access or process behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059 for remote code execution through web-based attack vectors. Additional defensive measures include regular security assessments of tablet input processing components and implementation of network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.