CVE-2016-0197 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
dxgkrnl.sys in the DirectX Graphics kernel subsystem in the kernel-mode drivers 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 local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Microsoft DirectX Graphics Kernel Subsystem Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-0197 resides within the dxgkrnl.sys component of Microsoft Windows operating systems, specifically affecting the DirectX Graphics kernel subsystem that handles graphics processing at the kernel level. This flaw exists in multiple Windows versions including 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. The vulnerability represents a critical elevation of privilege issue that allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges through a specially crafted application. The DirectX Graphics kernel subsystem is responsible for managing graphics hardware acceleration and direct access to GPU resources, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks due to its elevated security context and direct hardware interaction capabilities.
The technical flaw in dxgkrnl.sys stems from improper validation of input parameters within the kernel-mode driver functions that process graphics-related requests. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious application that sends specially formatted requests to the graphics kernel subsystem, which then fails to properly validate or sanitize the input data. This validation failure creates a condition where the kernel driver accepts malformed or unexpected parameters that can be manipulated to overwrite critical kernel memory structures or redirect execution flow. The vulnerability is classified as a kernel-mode privilege escalation flaw that allows a local user to transition from user-level privileges to kernel-level privileges, effectively granting complete system control. The underlying issue demonstrates a classic buffer overflow or memory corruption vulnerability where insufficient input validation enables attackers to manipulate kernel execution paths.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching across enterprise environments, as it provides a direct pathway for attackers to gain system-level control without requiring external network access or complex exploitation techniques. Once exploited, the vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, allowing them to bypass standard security controls, install rootkits, modify system files, and establish persistent backdoors. The local privilege escalation nature means that even if an attacker initially gains access through a low-privilege account or social engineering, they can quickly elevate their privileges to achieve complete system compromise. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where users may have legitimate access to systems but lack administrative privileges, making it a significant concern for organizations with standard user accounts and restricted access policies.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0197 should prioritize immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's regular security updates, as the vulnerability has been addressed in subsequent Windows security releases. Organizations should implement the principle of least privilege and ensure that users have minimal necessary permissions to reduce the potential impact of exploitation. System administrators should monitor for suspicious process behavior and implement security solutions that can detect anomalous kernel-mode activity. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 for stack-based buffer overflow and CWE-122 for heap-based buffer overflow, representing classic memory corruption vulnerabilities that require careful input validation and proper bounds checking. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage the elevated privileges to execute malicious code and establish persistence. Network segmentation and user access controls should be strengthened to limit the attack surface, while regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar kernel-mode flaws that may exist in other system components.