CVE-2015-6098 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the Network Driver Interface Standard (NDIS) implementation in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, and Windows 7 SP1 allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Windows NDIS Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6098 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Network Driver Interface Standard implementation of Microsoft Windows operating systems. This vulnerability affects Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, as well as Windows 7 SP1, making it a widespread issue across multiple versions of the windows ecosystem. The flaw exists in the kernel-mode components that handle network driver communications, specifically within the NDIS subsystem which serves as the interface between network drivers and the operating system's network stack.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the NDIS implementation where malicious applications can craft specially designed inputs that exceed the allocated buffer space. This buffer overflow occurs when network driver components process user-supplied data without adequate validation, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it operates within the kernel context, meaning that successful exploitation can result in privilege escalation from user-level to kernel-level execution. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows adjacent memory to be overwritten, and potentially CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables local privilege escalation attacks that can be exploited by malicious actors who already have user-level access to a target system. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, effectively bypassing system security controls and gaining complete control over the affected system. This capability allows for persistent access, data exfiltration, system compromise, and further lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed operating system versions means that organizations with legacy systems running these affected Windows versions face significant risk of exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-6098 should prioritize immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's security updates, specifically addressing the NDIS implementation flaws. System administrators should implement the latest security patches and updates for all affected Windows versions, ensuring comprehensive coverage across all supported platforms. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary network services, implementing strict access controls, and monitoring for anomalous network driver behavior. Organizations should also consider implementing exploit prevention technologies such as Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) to make exploitation more difficult. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and kernel-mode exploitation, making it a critical target for defensive measures and incident response protocols.