CVE-2017-0280 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The Microsoft Server Message Block 1.0 (SMBv1) allows denial of service when an attacker sends specially crafted requests to the server, aka "Windows SMB Denial of Service Vulnerability". This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2017-0269 and CVE-2017-0273.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0280 represents a critical denial of service weakness within Microsoft Server Message Block version 1.0 protocol implementation. This flaw specifically affects Windows operating systems that support SMBv1 functionality, creating a pathway for malicious actors to disrupt legitimate service availability. The vulnerability operates through a carefully crafted sequence of SMB protocol requests that, when processed by vulnerable systems, trigger abnormal termination conditions within the server's SMB service component. Security researchers have categorized this issue under the broader category of protocol implementation flaws that can be exploited to compromise system availability.
The technical mechanism behind CVE-2017-0280 involves the improper handling of specific SMBv1 request structures that cause the server's SMB service to crash or become unresponsive. When an attacker sends malformed or specially constructed SMB packets to a vulnerable system, the server's processing routine fails to properly validate incoming request parameters, leading to memory corruption or resource exhaustion conditions. This particular weakness stems from inadequate input validation within the SMBv1 implementation, where the service does not adequately sanitize or verify the integrity of incoming network requests before processing them. The flaw exists in the server-side SMB processing logic that handles various SMB protocol dialects and request types, specifically when encountering certain combinations of request flags and data structures.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0280 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire network infrastructures that rely heavily on SMBv1 for file sharing and resource access. Organizations running vulnerable systems may experience complete service outages, particularly in environments where SMBv1 remains enabled for backward compatibility reasons. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to systematically target critical servers, causing cascading failures that affect multiple dependent services and applications. The vulnerability's exploitation is relatively straightforward, requiring minimal technical expertise to craft the malicious requests, making it a particularly dangerous threat vector for organizations with legacy SMBv1 configurations. This weakness directly aligns with the common attack pattern described in the attack technique known as "Denial of Service" within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting network services and infrastructure availability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0280 primarily focus on disabling SMBv1 functionality across affected systems, as this represents the most effective approach to prevent exploitation. Microsoft recommends that organizations disable SMBv1 protocol support entirely through registry modifications or group policy configurations, as SMBv1 is considered inherently insecure and obsolete. Network administrators should also implement firewall rules to block SMBv1 traffic at network boundaries, particularly on ports 139 and 445 which are commonly used by the SMB protocol. Additional protective measures include deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious SMBv1 traffic patterns and implementing regular vulnerability assessments to ensure that no systems remain vulnerable. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-129 indicates it stems from improper input validation, making defensive coding practices and proper parameter validation essential elements in preventing similar issues. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts and establish robust monitoring procedures to detect unusual service disruptions that may indicate active exploitation of this vulnerability.