CVE-2017-8676 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The Windows Graphics Device Interface (GDI) 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 Server 2016; Office 2007 SP3; Office 2010 SP2; Word Viewer; Office for Mac 2011 and 2016; Skype for Business 2016; Lync 2013 SP1; Lync 2010; Lync 2010 Attendee; and Live Meeting 2007 Add-in and Console allows an authenticated attacker to retrieve information from a targeted system via a specially crafted application, aka "Windows GDI+ Information Disclosure Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2021
The Windows Graphics Device Interface GDI+ information disclosure vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that affects multiple Microsoft operating systems and office applications. This vulnerability specifically targets the GDI+ component within Microsoft Windows, which is responsible for rendering graphics and handling image processing operations. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to extract sensitive information from targeted systems through carefully crafted applications that exploit weaknesses in the graphics processing subsystem. The vulnerability impacts a broad range of Microsoft products including various Windows server and client versions, Office suites, and communication applications, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where these products are widely deployed.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of certain graphics objects and memory management within the GDI+ subsystem. When processing specially crafted graphics data, the system fails to properly validate input parameters, leading to information disclosure through memory leaks or improper memory access patterns. This flaw operates at the kernel level within the graphics rendering pipeline, allowing attackers to potentially extract sensitive data such as memory contents, system pointers, or other confidential information that should remain protected. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200 as an information disclosure weakness, where the system inadvertently reveals information that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain additional system intelligence or to facilitate more sophisticated attacks. The attack vector requires authentication, meaning an attacker must already have valid credentials to the system, but this lowers the barrier to exploitation compared to remote attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-8676 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked information could serve as a foundation for more advanced exploitation techniques. Attackers could potentially use the disclosed information to bypass security mechanisms, understand system memory layouts, or identify other potential vulnerabilities within the same system. In enterprise environments, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations that rely heavily on Microsoft Office and Windows products, as the attack surface is broad and the potential for escalation is high. The vulnerability affects both server and client operating systems, meaning that even endpoints running Windows 10 or Windows 7 could be compromised, and the presence of Office applications on these systems further expands the attack surface. This information disclosure could enable attackers to perform reconnaissance activities that would otherwise require more sophisticated techniques or additional vulnerabilities to achieve the same results.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's regular security updates, as well as implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected systems, particularly those running older versions of Windows Server 2008 and Windows 7, which remain vulnerable despite their age. Security teams should also implement monitoring for unusual graphics processing activities and memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under information gathering techniques, specifically related to system information discovery, where attackers might use such information to plan more targeted attacks. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of untrusted graphics processing applications, enabling memory protection mechanisms, and conducting regular security assessments to identify systems that may have been compromised through this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can monitor for patterns consistent with exploitation attempts targeting the GDI+ subsystem.