CVE-2016-3263 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
Graphics Device Interface (aka GDI or 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; Windows 10 Gold, 1511, and 1607; Office 2007 SP3; Office 2010 SP2; Word Viewer; Skype for Business 2016; Lync 2013 SP1; Lync 2010; Lync 2010 Attendee; and Live Meeting 2007 Console allows remote attackers to bypass the ASLR protection mechanism via unspecified vectors, aka "GDI+ Information Disclosure Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-3262.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2022
The CVE-2016-3263 vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Microsoft's Graphics Device Interface and GDI+ components that affects multiple operating systems and software products. This vulnerability specifically targets the Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) protection mechanism, which is a fundamental security feature designed to prevent attackers from predicting memory addresses and executing successful exploits. The flaw exists in the GDI+ graphics subsystem that handles rendering operations for various Microsoft applications and operating systems, making it a prime target for sophisticated attack vectors that could undermine the security posture of affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves unspecified vectors that allow remote attackers to bypass ASLR protections, effectively leaking memory layout information that would normally be randomized during system execution. This information disclosure enables attackers to determine the base addresses of critical system components, making subsequent exploitation attempts significantly more successful. The vulnerability manifests 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, 1511, and 1607, as well as various Microsoft Office products including Office 2007 SP3, Office 2010 SP2, Word Viewer, Skype for Business 2016, Lync 2013 SP1, Lync 2010, Lync 2010 Attendee, and Live Meeting 2007 Console. The cross-platform nature of this vulnerability demonstrates the widespread impact of GDI+ flaws across Microsoft's ecosystem.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it provides attackers with the capability to perform advanced exploitation techniques that would otherwise be impossible due to ASLR protections. This information disclosure essentially weakens the security model by allowing attackers to circumvent memory protection mechanisms that are crucial for preventing buffer overflow attacks and other exploitation methods. The vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to gain deeper insights into system memory structures, potentially enabling them to craft more sophisticated attacks that could lead to privilege escalation or complete system compromise. This makes CVE-2016-3263 particularly dangerous in environments where attackers are actively seeking to exploit multiple vulnerabilities or conduct advanced persistent threat operations.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Disclosure) and represents a critical weakness in Microsoft's security architecture that directly impacts the effectiveness of ASLR implementations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) as attackers can leverage the information disclosure to enhance their exploitation capabilities. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems and implement additional monitoring for suspicious network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in graphics subsystems can have far-reaching implications for overall system security. Security teams should consider implementing network segmentation and additional monitoring controls to detect potential exploitation attempts leveraging this vulnerability.