CVE-2016-3346 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Windows 10 Gold, 1511, and 1607 does not properly enforce permissions, which allows local users to obtain Administrator access via a crafted DLL, aka "Windows Permissions Enforcement Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2022
This vulnerability resides in Microsoft Windows operating systems including Windows 10 Gold, version 1511, and version 1607, where the system fails to properly enforce permissions during DLL loading processes. The flaw allows local attackers to escalate their privileges from standard user level to administrator level through the strategic placement of a malicious DLL file. This represents a critical elevation of privilege vulnerability that directly undermines the operating system's security model and access control mechanisms.
The technical root cause involves improper validation of DLL loading sequences and insufficient permission checks during the dynamic link library resolution process. When Windows attempts to load a DLL, it follows a specific search order that can be manipulated by an attacker who places a malicious DLL in a location that gets prioritized during the loading sequence. This flaw specifically relates to CWE-276, which describes inadequate permissions and access controls, and more precisely maps to CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds write conditions that can occur during DLL loading operations. The vulnerability exploits the trust model inherent in Windows' DLL search order mechanism.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables local attackers to bypass the fundamental security controls that separate user and administrator privileges. An attacker with low-privilege access can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code with full administrative rights, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This vulnerability can be exploited in various attack scenarios including social engineering campaigns where users might unknowingly execute malicious software that triggers the privilege escalation. The attack requires local access but does not need network connectivity, making it particularly dangerous in environments where physical access is possible.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing the principle of least privilege and ensuring proper system hardening measures are in place. Microsoft released security updates that address this specific vulnerability through enhanced permission enforcement during DLL loading operations. Organizations should deploy these patches immediately and consider additional security controls such as enabling Windows Defender Application Control or AppLocker policies to restrict DLL loading from unauthorized locations. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through the exploitation of system vulnerabilities, making it a target for advanced persistent threat actors seeking to establish persistent access to compromised systems.