CVE-2017-0180 in Hyper-V
Summary
by MITRE
A remote code execution vulnerability exists when Windows Hyper-V Network Switch running on a host server fails to properly validate input from an authenticated user on a guest operating system, aka "Hyper-V Remote Code Execution Vulnerability." This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2017-0162, CVE-2017-0163, and CVE-2017-0181.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0180 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within Microsoft Windows Hyper-V virtualization infrastructure. This security weakness specifically affects the Hyper-V Network Switch component that operates on host servers, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the network switch functionality, which processes data flows between virtual machines and physical network resources. When an authenticated user operates within a guest operating system environment, they can potentially exploit this flaw to gain elevated privileges and execute malicious code on the underlying host system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper validation of network packet data within the Hyper-V Network Switch implementation. Attackers can craft specially formatted network traffic that bypasses normal validation checks, allowing malicious payloads to be injected into the host system's memory space. This flaw operates at the hypervisor level, meaning that successful exploitation can compromise the entire virtualization environment and potentially affect all virtual machines hosted on the vulnerable system. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual virtual machines since it affects the underlying host infrastructure that manages multiple guest operating systems simultaneously.
The operational implications of CVE-2017-0180 are particularly severe in enterprise environments where Hyper-V is extensively deployed for virtualization purposes. Organizations running multiple virtual machines on affected Hyper-V hosts face significant risk of complete system compromise, data breaches, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote execution capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the host system or direct network connectivity to the guest machines, as exploitation can occur through network-based attacks. This characteristic makes the vulnerability especially dangerous in cloud computing environments where multiple tenants share the same physical infrastructure, potentially allowing one compromised virtual machine to affect others hosted on the same Hyper-V system.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including applying Microsoft's security patches and updates, which address the input validation flaws in the Hyper-V Network Switch component. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as hypervisor hardening measures and privileged access management to reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, "Improper Input Validation," and represents a significant concern for attackers following the MITRE ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and execution techniques, particularly those targeting virtualization environments and hypervisor components.