CVE-2017-8462 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The kernel in Microsoft Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows 10 Gold, 1511, 1607, 1703, and Windows Server 2016 allows an authenticated attacker to obtain information via a specially crafted application. aka "Windows Kernel Information Disclosure Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2017-8491, CVE-2017-8490, CVE-2017-8489, CVE-2017-8488, CVE-2017-8485, CVE-2017-8483, CVE-2017-8482, CVE-2017-8481, CVE-2017-8480, CVE-2017-8478, CVE-2017-8479, CVE-2017-8476, CVE-2017-8474, CVE-2017-8469, CVE-2017-0300, CVE-2017-0299, and CVE-2017-0297.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Windows kernel that affects multiple operating system versions including Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows 10 Gold, 1511, 1607, 1703, and Windows Server 2016. The vulnerability specifically allows authenticated attackers to obtain sensitive information through carefully crafted applications, making it a significant concern for system security. The flaw operates at the kernel level, which means it can potentially expose critical system data that would normally be protected from user-space applications. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category of "Information Exposure" and represents a classic example of how kernel-level flaws can be exploited to gather intelligence that could aid in subsequent attacks. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only authentication, meaning an attacker who has already gained access to a system can leverage this flaw to extract additional information that could be used for privilege escalation or further exploitation attempts.
The technical mechanism behind this information disclosure involves the kernel's handling of specific data structures or memory regions that are not properly protected or validated. When an authenticated user executes a specially crafted application, the kernel fails to adequately sanitize or restrict access to certain memory locations or system information that should remain confidential. This could include details about kernel memory layout, system configuration parameters, or other sensitive data that would normally be protected from unauthorized access. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the kernel's information access control mechanisms, where proper boundaries between different privilege levels are not maintained. Attackers can potentially leverage this to gather information about the system's internal state, which could be used to craft more sophisticated attacks or to understand the target environment better. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability could enable attackers to perform reconnaissance activities that would normally require more privileged access or direct kernel-level manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can serve as a stepping stone for more serious attacks within the Windows ecosystem. The information obtained through this vulnerability could be used to understand kernel memory layouts, identify potential weaknesses in system configuration, or gather data that would be valuable for privilege escalation attacks. Security researchers have noted that this type of information disclosure vulnerability can significantly reduce the attack surface complexity for threat actors who are already authenticated to a system. The vulnerability's presence across such a wide range of Windows versions means that organizations with legacy systems or those that have not yet updated to newer releases remain at risk. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments where patch management might be delayed or where certain systems cannot be easily updated due to compatibility concerns or business requirements.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Microsoft security updates that address this vulnerability, which would typically be part of the regular Windows update cycle. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would likely involve techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation, as the information disclosure can be used to gather intelligence that aids in further compromising systems. System administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring for suspicious application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around kernel-level activities. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be reinforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, even if the initial vulnerability is not directly exploitable for remote code execution. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected Windows versions and prioritize patching activities accordingly. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and highlights the risks associated with running unsupported or legacy operating system versions that may contain unpatched kernel vulnerabilities.