CVE-2016-7257 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The GDI component in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Office for Mac 2011, and Office 2016 for Mac allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from process memory via a crafted web site, aka "GDI Information Disclosure Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2022
The CVE-2016-7257 vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Graphics Device Interface component of Microsoft Windows operating systems and Office applications for Mac. This vulnerability affects a broad range of Microsoft products including Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, as well as Office for Mac 2011 and Office 2016 for Mac. The flaw enables remote attackers to extract sensitive data from process memory through maliciously crafted web content, making it particularly dangerous in web-based attack scenarios where users might inadvertently visit compromised websites.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper validation of graphics data within the GDI component, which is responsible for handling graphics operations and rendering visual elements in Windows applications. When processing specially crafted graphics files or web content, the GDI subsystem fails to properly sanitize input data, leading to memory disclosure issues. This occurs because the component does not adequately check bounds or validate the structure of graphics objects, allowing attackers to manipulate memory access patterns and extract information from adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-200, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure," making it a direct descendant of information leakage flaws that can expose sensitive system data to unauthorized parties.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7257 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the extracted memory contents may contain sensitive data such as encryption keys, user credentials, application state information, or other confidential data stored in process memory. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform advanced persistent threats where they gradually gather information about running processes, system configurations, or user sessions. The remote nature of this attack vector means that exploitation can occur without any local system access, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where users frequently browse untrusted websites. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, specifically the use of remote access through web-based attacks, and represents a classic example of how graphics rendering components can become attack surfaces for information leakage.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal privileges and can be executed through standard web browsing activities, making it highly attractive to threat actors seeking to conduct reconnaissance or gather intelligence about target systems. The attack typically involves hosting a malicious website that contains specially crafted graphics elements designed to trigger the memory disclosure behavior in the GDI component. Once triggered, the vulnerability allows attackers to read memory contents that may include sensitive information from other processes or system components. Organizations running affected versions of Microsoft Windows or Office for Mac should consider this vulnerability as a high-priority threat due to its remote exploitability and potential for data exposure. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign components like graphics rendering can become critical attack vectors when proper input validation and memory management practices are not implemented. Security professionals should prioritize patch management for affected systems and implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.