CVE-2018-0753 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
Windows 8.1 and RT 8.1, Windows Server 2012 and R2, Windows 10 Gold, 1511, 1607, 1703 and 1709, Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server, version 1709 allow a denial of service vulnerability due to the way objects are handled in memory, aka "Windows IPSec Denial of Service Vulnerability".
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2021
The Windows IPSec Denial of Service Vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0753 represents a critical security flaw affecting multiple Microsoft Windows operating systems including Windows 8.1, RT 8.1, Windows Server 2012 and R2, Windows 10 versions from Gold through 1709, and Windows Server 2016. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of objects within memory management systems of the Windows IPSec implementation. The flaw manifests when the system processes certain malformed or specially crafted IPSec packets that trigger improper memory handling mechanisms, leading to system instability and potential denial of service conditions.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient validation and handling of memory objects during IPSec packet processing operations. When the Windows IPSec subsystem receives maliciously constructed packets, it fails to properly validate the memory structures associated with these packets, resulting in memory corruption or improper memory deallocation patterns. This memory handling deficiency creates a condition where the system may experience crashes, system hangs, or complete service outages. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level within the IPSec driver components, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect network connectivity and system availability across the entire operating system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can be exploited by remote attackers to systematically degrade network services and compromise system availability. Attackers can craft specific IPSec packets that when processed by vulnerable systems trigger the memory handling flaw, causing the affected systems to become unresponsive or crash entirely. This creates significant operational risks for organizations relying on IPSec for secure communications, as malicious actors could potentially orchestrate denial of service attacks against network infrastructure, affecting business continuity and network availability. The vulnerability affects both client and server operating systems, amplifying its potential impact across enterprise networks where IPSec is commonly deployed for secure communications and remote access solutions.
Organizations should prioritize immediate mitigation through Microsoft security updates and patches addressing this vulnerability. The recommended approach involves implementing the security patches released by Microsoft under bulletin MS18-033, which specifically address the memory handling issues within the IPSec subsystem. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect anomalous IPSec traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should review their IPSec configurations to minimize exposure and ensure proper network access controls are in place. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input boundaries, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.002 for network denial of service attacks, emphasizing the importance of maintaining robust network security controls and incident response procedures to address such vulnerabilities effectively.