CVE-2016-0015 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
DirectShow in 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 10 Gold and 1511 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted file, aka "DirectShow Heap Corruption Remote Code Execution Vulnerability."
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2024
The CVE-2016-0015 vulnerability represents a critical heap corruption flaw within Microsoft's DirectShow multimedia framework affecting multiple Windows operating systems from Vista through Windows 10. This vulnerability resides in the way DirectShow processes certain media files, specifically when handling crafted malicious content that triggers improper memory management during media parsing operations. The flaw enables remote code execution attacks where adversaries can exploit this vulnerability by delivering malicious files through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites. The vulnerability's impact spans across enterprise and consumer environments due to the widespread use of DirectShow components in multimedia applications and Windows operating systems.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper bounds checking and memory allocation handling within DirectShow's media file parsing routines. When processing specially crafted media files, the framework fails to properly validate input data structures, leading to heap-based buffer overflows that can be leveraged by attackers to overwrite critical memory locations. This heap corruption occurs during the parsing of media metadata or stream information, where insufficient validation allows malicious data to cause memory corruption that can be manipulated to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. The vulnerability specifically affects the way DirectShow handles certain media container formats and their associated metadata parsing, creating opportunities for attackers to craft malicious files that trigger the exploitable conditions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations as it allows remote code execution without requiring user interaction in many scenarios, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments. The attack surface includes any system running affected Windows versions that processes multimedia content, whether through web browsers, media players, email clients, or other applications that utilize DirectShow components. Security researchers have identified that exploitation typically requires a user to open or play a malicious file, though some variants may allow for more automated exploitation through web-based attacks. The vulnerability's presence in both client and server operating systems means that organizations must consider both endpoint protection and network security measures to defend against potential exploitation attempts.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Microsoft security patches and updates as released through Windows Update or Microsoft Security Response Center. Network segmentation and application whitelisting policies can help reduce the attack surface by limiting which applications can process multimedia content. Security teams should also monitor for suspicious file downloads and implement email filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious media files. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 and CWE-125 categories related to heap-based buffer overflows and improper bounds checking, and maps to ATT&CK techniques involving execution through compromised applications and remote code execution. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary multimedia processing capabilities, implementing strict file type validation, and maintaining comprehensive monitoring of system processes that interact with DirectShow components. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure all affected systems are properly patched and secured against potential exploitation attempts.