CVE-2016-0145 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The font library in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2; Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1; Windows 7 SP1; Windows 8.1; Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2; Windows RT 8.1; Windows 10 Gold and 1511; Office 2007 SP3 and 2010 SP2; Word Viewer; .NET Framework 3.0 SP2, 3.5, and 3.5.1; Skype for Business 2016; Lync 2010; Lync 2010 Attendee; Lync 2013 SP1; and Live Meeting 2007 Console allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted embedded font, aka "Graphics Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0145 represents a critical graphics memory corruption flaw within Microsoft's font handling libraries across multiple operating systems and applications. This vulnerability affects a broad range of Microsoft products including Windows Vista through Windows 10, various Office suites, Skype for Business, Lync, and Live Meeting applications. The flaw resides in how these systems process embedded fonts, particularly when rendering font data that has been maliciously crafted to exploit memory management issues. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read condition, which occurs when the font rendering engine attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This type of memory corruption vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a maliciously crafted font file is embedded within a document, email attachment, or web content that is subsequently processed by an affected application. When the vulnerable system attempts to render this font, the corrupted memory access triggers a buffer overflow or underflow condition that can be manipulated by attackers to overwrite critical memory locations. This memory corruption can lead to arbitrary code execution, allowing threat actors to gain control over the affected system. The attack vector is particularly insidious because fonts are commonly embedded in various document formats including pdf doc docx rtf and others, making it easy for attackers to deliver malicious payloads through seemingly benign office documents or web content. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects multiple versions of Microsoft's ecosystem, from older Windows versions like Vista to newer releases including Windows 10, providing attackers with numerous potential targets.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to enterprise environments where users frequently interact with office documents and web content. The exploitation can occur without user interaction in many scenarios, particularly when documents are automatically rendered upon opening or when web content is displayed in browsers that utilize Microsoft's font rendering libraries. Organizations using affected versions of Microsoft Office, Exchange Server, or other Microsoft applications are particularly vulnerable as these systems process font data in the same manner. The vulnerability can be leveraged for privilege escalation attacks, where attackers might gain SYSTEM level access on the compromised machine, enabling them to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or deploy additional malware. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability is frequently used in targeted attacks against government and corporate entities, where the goal is often information theft rather than simple system compromise. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique involving code injection and privilege escalation through memory corruption vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0145 require immediate patch deployment across all affected systems, as Microsoft released security updates that addressed the font parsing issues in their respective software versions. Organizations should implement strict document filtering policies that prevent execution of embedded fonts from untrusted sources, particularly in email systems and web applications. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can help limit the impact if exploitation occurs, while regular security assessments should verify that all systems have been properly patched. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of keeping font rendering libraries updated, as many organizations have historically overlooked these components in their security maintenance routines. Additionally, implementing security awareness training for users to recognize potentially malicious documents and attachments can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Organizations should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious font-related network traffic patterns and monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing of patches to ensure they do not introduce compatibility issues with legitimate font rendering requirements in business applications.