CVE-2016-7210 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
atmfd.dll 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, and Windows Server 2016 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from process memory via a crafted Open Type font on a web site, aka "Open Type Font Information Disclosure Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7210 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the atmfd.dll component of Microsoft Windows operating systems. This vulnerability specifically affects a wide range of 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, Windows 10 Gold, 1511, and 1607, as well as Windows Server 2016. The flaw resides in how the system processes Open Type fonts, which are commonly used for advanced typography and text rendering in modern applications and web environments.
The technical mechanism of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of crafted Open Type font files within the Windows font processing pipeline. When a web page loads a maliciously constructed Open Type font, the atmfd.dll module fails to properly validate or sanitize the font data before processing it. This inadequate validation leads to a memory disclosure condition where sensitive information from the process memory space can be accessed by remote attackers. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through web-based attacks without requiring any user interaction or privilege escalation, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments and individual users alike. Attackers can leverage this flaw to extract sensitive data such as cryptographic keys, authentication tokens, user credentials, and other confidential information stored in memory. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as this data can be used for further attacks including credential theft, privilege escalation, and lateral movement within networks. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Windows versions means that organizations across various deployment scenarios are potentially exposed, with the risk being particularly high for systems that frequently access untrusted web content or have web-based applications that process user-uploaded fonts.
The vulnerability maps to CWE-200, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript," as attackers can use this information disclosure to gather intelligence for subsequent attacks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Microsoft security updates, implementing web application firewalls to filter suspicious font content, and monitoring network traffic for potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, administrators should consider disabling automatic font loading from untrusted sources and implementing strict content security policies for web applications to prevent the loading of potentially malicious font files. The remediation process requires careful attention to ensure that legitimate font processing continues to function while eliminating the information disclosure risk that this vulnerability presents.