CVE-2017-8677 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The Windows GDI+ component on 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, and 1703, and Windows Server 2016 allows an information disclosure vulnerability when it improperly discloses kernel memory addresses, aka "Win32k Information Disclosure Vulnerability". This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2017-8678, CVE-2017-8680, CVE-2017-8681, and CVE-2017-8687.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2021
The Windows GDI+ component vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8677 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Windows kernel-mode graphics subsystem 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, and 1703, as well as Windows Server 2016. This vulnerability specifically resides in the win32k.sys kernel driver which handles graphics rendering operations and user interface elements, making it a prime target for exploitation within the Windows security model. The flaw manifests when the GDI+ component improperly handles certain graphics operations that result in kernel memory addresses being inadvertently exposed to user-mode applications through crafted graphics objects or rendering commands.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of graphics object parameters within the Windows Graphics Device Interface plus subsystem. When processing certain malformed graphics data structures, the GDI+ component fails to properly sanitize memory access patterns, leading to the leakage of kernel virtual memory addresses that contain sensitive information about system memory layout and internal kernel structures. This information disclosure occurs through the graphics rendering pipeline where user-mode applications can access kernel memory contents through improper memory management during graphics processing operations. The vulnerability is classified as a memory corruption issue that allows attackers to gain insights into the kernel's memory organization, which can be leveraged to facilitate more sophisticated attacks by providing attackers with information about kernel memory layout and potential offsets for exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-8677 extends beyond simple information disclosure as it provides attackers with critical reconnaissance data that can be used in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to bypass security mitigations such as address space layout randomization and kernel address space layout randomization. The leaked kernel memory addresses can be used to circumvent exploit protections by allowing attackers to craft more precise and reliable exploits that target specific kernel memory regions. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and can be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1068 (Local Privilege Escalation) when exploited in combination with other vulnerabilities. The vulnerability affects systems running on both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures and can be exploited remotely or locally depending on the attack vector used, though local exploitation is more common due to the nature of graphics rendering operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8677 primarily focus on applying Microsoft security patches and updates as soon as they become available, since this vulnerability requires no user interaction for exploitation and can be leveraged by attackers to gain system compromise. System administrators should prioritize patch management and ensure all affected systems receive the appropriate Windows security updates that address the information disclosure flaw in the win32k.sys driver. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict the execution of potentially malicious graphics processing applications, monitoring for unusual graphics rendering behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, and configuring appropriate network segmentation to limit the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of kernel-mode security validation and proper memory management practices, as it highlights how seemingly benign graphics operations can expose critical kernel information when not properly validated. Organizations should also consider implementing exploit protection mechanisms such as Data Execution Prevention and Control Flow Guard to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts that might leverage this information disclosure vulnerability.