CVE-2016-3230 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The Search component in Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT 8.1, and Windows 10 Gold and 1511 allows local users to cause a denial of service (performance degradation) via a crafted application, aka "Windows Search Component Denial of Service Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3230 represents a significant denial of service weakness within Microsoft Windows search functionality that affects multiple operating system versions including Windows 7 through Windows 10. This flaw resides in the Windows Search component which is responsible for indexing and retrieving files, emails, and other content across the system. The vulnerability specifically manifests when a local attacker crafts a malicious application that exploits the search component's handling of certain input data, leading to performance degradation rather than complete system crash. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-400, which encompasses weaknesses related to uncontrolled resource consumption, and can be classified as a resource exhaustion attack that impacts system availability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a crafted application that interacts with the Windows Search service in a manner designed to consume excessive system resources. When the search component processes the malicious input, it enters an abnormal state where it continuously consumes memory and cpu cycles, resulting in significant performance degradation that makes the system unresponsive to legitimate user requests. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only local user access, meaning any user with standard privileges can potentially exploit this weakness without requiring administrative rights. This local privilege escalation aspect aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through exploitation of system vulnerabilities, and specifically targets the Windows Search service through the use of crafted input that causes resource exhaustion.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple performance degradation to potentially compromise the usability of affected systems. When exploited successfully, the Windows Search service becomes unresponsive, causing delays in file searches and potentially preventing users from accessing system content through the search interface. The degradation can be severe enough to make the system appear frozen or unresponsive, particularly when the malicious application continuously feeds the search component with malformed data. This vulnerability affects enterprise environments where Windows Search is heavily utilized for content indexing and retrieval, potentially impacting productivity and system availability. Organizations running affected Windows versions may experience cascading effects where the search service consumes all available resources, leading to application failures and system instability. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and resource management in system components, particularly those that handle user-supplied data. Security professionals should note that while this vulnerability does not provide direct code execution capabilities, it can be combined with other exploits to create more comprehensive attack scenarios. The impact is particularly significant in environments where Windows Search is used extensively for enterprise content management and where system availability is critical for business operations. Mitigation strategies should include applying the relevant Microsoft security updates, implementing proper access controls to limit local user privileges, and monitoring system performance for unusual resource consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.