CVE-2017-0167 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability exists in Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2016 when the Windows kernel improperly handles objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could obtain information to further compromise the user's system, a.k.a. "Windows Kernel Information Disclosure Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0167 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Windows kernel subsystem that affects multiple operating system versions including Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2016. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-200, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure" conditions where sensitive information is unintentionally made available to unauthorized actors. The flaw manifests when the Windows kernel fails to properly manage memory objects during certain operations, creating potential pathways for attackers to extract valuable system information.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper handling of kernel objects in memory, where the kernel's memory management routines do not adequately validate or sanitize memory access operations. This improper memory handling allows an attacker to potentially read sensitive kernel memory locations that should remain protected from user-mode processes. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory boundary checking within the kernel's object management functions, creating a condition where arbitrary memory contents can be accessed through carefully crafted system calls or memory operations. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gather information about kernel memory layout, system configuration, or other sensitive data that could aid in subsequent exploitation attempts.
From an operational impact perspective, successful exploitation of CVE-2017-0167 provides attackers with information that can significantly enhance their ability to conduct more sophisticated attacks against the compromised system. The leaked information may include kernel memory addresses, system configuration details, or other sensitive data that can be used to bypass security mechanisms such as address space layout randomization ASLR or exploit protection features. This information disclosure creates a dangerous precedent where attackers can better understand the target system's internal state and structure, making subsequent attacks more effective and harder to detect. The vulnerability can serve as a stepping stone for privilege escalation or other advanced exploitation techniques, as the leaked information often reveals critical system internals that would otherwise remain hidden from attackers.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0167 primarily involve implementing timely security updates from Microsoft, which address the underlying kernel memory handling issues through proper validation and boundary checking mechanisms. Organizations should prioritize patch deployment across all affected Windows versions, particularly focusing on systems that handle sensitive data or operate in high-risk environments. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts, while monitoring for unusual memory access patterns or system calls can help detect potential exploitation activities. Security professionals should also consider implementing exploit protection mechanisms such as Data Execution Prevention DEP, stack canaries, and other kernel hardening techniques that can make exploitation more difficult even if the underlying vulnerability exists. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework falls under T1068, "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," as the information disclosure can enable attackers to gain elevated privileges or access to protected system resources through subsequent exploitation attempts.