CVE-2017-8485 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-2017-8492, CVE-2017-8491, CVE-2017-8490, CVE-2017-8489, CVE-2017-8488, CVE-2017-8483, CVE-2017-8482, CVE-2017-8480, CVE-2017-8479, CVE-2017-8478, CVE-2017-8476, CVE-2017-8474, CVE-2017-8469, CVE-2017-8462, CVE-2017-0300, CVE-2017-0299, and CVE-2017-0297.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Windows kernel component 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 versions 1511, 1607, 1703, and Windows Server 2016. The vulnerability specifically enables authenticated attackers to extract sensitive information from the kernel memory space through a specially crafted application, creating a significant security risk that could potentially lead to further exploitation opportunities. The flaw stems from improper validation of kernel-mode operations that should have restricted access to privileged memory locations, allowing unauthorized information retrieval that violates fundamental security principles of operating system isolation. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category of "Information Exposure" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1003.001 for OS Credential Dumping, as the information disclosure could potentially provide attackers with data needed to escalate privileges or conduct more sophisticated attacks. The authenticated nature of the vulnerability means that an attacker must first establish a valid user session on the target system, but once achieved, the information leakage could expose kernel structures, memory addresses, or other sensitive data that could be leveraged in subsequent attacks. This particular vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the kernel's memory management subsystem to properly enforce access controls, creating a pathway for information extraction that could aid in bypassing security mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the kernel's privilege escalation handling mechanisms where insufficient validation allows a malicious application to query kernel memory locations that should remain restricted to kernel-mode operations. Attackers can craft specific applications that trigger kernel functions designed for legitimate administrative purposes but which inadvertently expose kernel data structures through improper error handling or access control enforcement. The vulnerability manifests when the kernel fails to properly validate input parameters or access requests from user-mode applications, allowing them to access memory regions that contain sensitive kernel information. This flaw represents a classic example of insufficient privilege checking and inadequate input validation within kernel components, creating a pathway for attackers to gather information about system internals that could be used to bypass security controls or develop more targeted exploits. The information disclosure could include kernel memory addresses, structure layouts, or other sensitive data that would typically remain hidden from user-mode processes, significantly weakening the security posture of affected systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a foundation for more sophisticated attacks that could lead to privilege escalation, system compromise, or further exploitation of related vulnerabilities. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially use the leaked information to bypass kernel security features such as address space layout randomization, kernel address randomization, or other exploit mitigations that rely on keeping kernel memory structures hidden from user-mode processes. This information leakage could enable attackers to develop more effective buffer overflow exploits, return-oriented programming attacks, or other advanced techniques that depend on knowing specific memory layouts or kernel function addresses. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Windows versions means that organizations running any of the affected operating systems are potentially exposed to this information disclosure threat, creating widespread risk across enterprise environments and increasing the attack surface for malicious actors. Security researchers have noted that this type of information disclosure vulnerability often serves as a precursor to more serious exploitation techniques, as the leaked information can significantly reduce the complexity of subsequent attacks. The vulnerability's classification as an authenticated information disclosure issue means that even organizations with strong perimeter security may be at risk if an attacker can establish a valid user session, potentially through social engineering, credential theft, or other means of gaining initial access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's security updates, which address the kernel validation issues by implementing proper access controls and input validation mechanisms. Organizations should prioritize patching all affected systems, particularly those running older Windows versions such as Windows Server 2008 and Windows 7, which have reached end-of-life support and may not receive further security updates. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring for suspicious kernel access patterns and consider deploying exploit protection mechanisms that can detect and block attempts to query kernel memory regions. Network segmentation and least privilege access controls can help limit the potential impact if an attacker does manage to exploit this vulnerability, while regular security assessments should verify that systems are properly patched and that no unauthorized applications are attempting to access kernel resources. The vulnerability's nature as an authenticated information disclosure issue means that user account protection measures such as strong authentication, multi-factor authentication, and regular credential rotation can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized applications from running and potentially exploiting this kernel vulnerability, while maintaining detailed audit logs of kernel access attempts that could indicate exploitation attempts. Microsoft's security advisory for this vulnerability emphasizes the importance of timely patch management and recommends that administrators verify their systems are properly updated to address the kernel access control weakness that enables this information disclosure.