CVE-2016-0168 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
GDI 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, and Windows 10 Gold and 1511 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a crafted document, aka "Windows Graphics Component Information Disclosure Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-0169.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0168 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Graphics Device Interface component of Microsoft Windows operating systems. This vulnerability affects a broad range of Microsoft products including 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, and Windows 10 Gold and 1511 versions. The flaw resides in how the Windows Graphics Component handles certain crafted documents, creating an avenue for remote attackers to extract sensitive information from affected systems. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-200, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure" and falls within the broader category of information disclosure vulnerabilities that can lead to unauthorized data access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through improper handling of graphics-related data structures when processing specially crafted documents. Attackers can exploit this weakness by preparing malicious documents that trigger specific code paths within the GDI subsystem, causing the system to leak memory contents or internal state information. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level within the graphics processing component, making it particularly dangerous as it can potentially expose system memory regions containing sensitive data such as encryption keys, user credentials, or other confidential information. This type of information disclosure vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005 which focuses on data from local system, and T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter, as attackers may use the leaked information to craft more sophisticated attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0168 extends beyond simple information leakage, as the sensitive data exposure could enable attackers to perform more advanced attacks including privilege escalation, credential theft, or system compromise. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to target systems, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple systems may be exposed to untrusted documents. Organizations running affected Windows versions face significant risk, as the vulnerability can be triggered through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious documents shared via collaboration platforms. The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to system resources and potentially full system compromise, making it a high-priority issue for security teams.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0168 should focus on immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's regular security updates, as the vulnerability was addressed in the February 2016 security bulletin. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and content filtering to prevent users from accessing potentially malicious documents. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual memory access patterns or information disclosure attempts, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to scan and block suspicious document content. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing the principle of least privilege to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, and establish robust incident response procedures to quickly address any exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and demonstrates how graphics processing components can serve as unexpected attack vectors in modern computing environments.