CVE-2016-7247 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows 10 Gold, 1511, and 1607, and Windows Server 2016 allow physically proximate attackers to bypass the Secure Boot protection mechanism via a crafted boot policy, aka "Secure Boot Component Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7247 represents a critical weakness in Microsoft Windows operating systems that affects multiple versions including Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, Windows RT 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2016. This flaw specifically targets the Secure Boot protection mechanism, which serves as a fundamental security feature designed to prevent unauthorized code execution during the boot process by ensuring only trusted software can run. The vulnerability allows attackers who have physical proximity to a target system to bypass this essential security control through manipulation of boot policies, effectively undermining the entire boot integrity framework that Microsoft has implemented to protect against rootkit and bootkit attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of boot policy components within the Secure Boot implementation. Attackers can craft specific boot policies that exploit gaps in the verification process, allowing them to load unsigned or malicious boot components that would normally be blocked by the Secure Boot mechanism. This flaw operates at a low-level system interface where boot loaders and firmware components interact, making it particularly dangerous as it can enable attackers to establish persistent footholds before the operating system fully loads. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, specifically in the context of boot process security controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7247 is severe and far-reaching, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of the boot process across affected Windows platforms. An attacker with physical access can effectively disable or bypass the Secure Boot protection, potentially leading to complete system compromise through bootkits, rootkits, or other persistent malware that operates below the normal operating system layers. This vulnerability significantly reduces the effectiveness of the security model that Windows implements, as it allows adversaries to undermine the trust chain that begins with the firmware and extends through the boot process to the operating system itself. The implications extend beyond simple privilege escalation, as this vulnerability can enable attackers to establish persistent backdoors that survive system reboots and remain undetected by traditional security mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7247 require immediate attention from system administrators and security professionals, as the vulnerability can be exploited without requiring network connectivity or advanced technical skills. Microsoft released security updates that address this issue through patches that strengthen the boot policy validation mechanisms and improve the overall integrity checking of boot components. Organizations should prioritize applying these patches across all affected systems, particularly those in high-security environments or those handling sensitive data. Additional mitigations include implementing physical security controls to prevent unauthorized access to systems, enabling additional hardware security features such as Trusted Platform Module (TPM) integration, and monitoring for suspicious boot behavior or unauthorized changes to boot configuration data. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1014, which covers rootkit and bootkit techniques, and demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining secure boot environments in enterprise security architectures.