CVE-2018-0760 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The Microsoft Windows Embedded OpenType (EOT) font engine in Microsoft Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows Server 2012 allows information disclosure, due to how the Windows EOT font engine handles embedded fonts, aka "Windows EOT Font Engine Information Disclosure Vulnerability". This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-0755, CVE-2018-0761, and CVE-2018-0855.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-0760 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Microsoft Windows Embedded OpenType (EOT) font engine that affects multiple Windows operating systems including Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows Server 2012. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of embedded fonts within the EOT format, which is commonly used for web font delivery and embedded typography in Windows environments. The flaw specifically manifests when the Windows EOT font engine processes certain malformed or specially crafted embedded font files, creating opportunities for unauthorized data exposure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the Windows EOT font engine's insufficient validation and processing of embedded font data structures. When a maliciously crafted EOT font file is processed by the Windows font engine, the vulnerability allows for information disclosure through memory corruption or improper memory access patterns. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-200, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure," and represents a classic example of how font processing engines can become attack vectors for data leakage. The EOT format's complex structure and the way Windows handles embedded fonts creates a scenario where arbitrary memory contents can be accessed and potentially disclosed to unauthorized processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially enable attackers to extract sensitive data from system memory, including credentials, personal information, or other confidential data that might be stored in memory regions accessible through the font engine's processing routines. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because font files are commonly encountered in web browsing scenarios and document processing environments, making exploitation relatively accessible. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would align with T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1068 for "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" when combined with other attack vectors, though the primary impact remains information disclosure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0760 should focus on immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's security updates, which address the underlying font engine processing logic to properly validate embedded font data. Organizations should implement additional protective measures including restricting font file execution, implementing strict content filtering for font files, and monitoring for unusual font processing activities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of font engine security in operating systems and demonstrates how legacy font processing components can remain vulnerable despite system updates, making comprehensive security assessments of all font handling components essential for maintaining system integrity. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of potentially malicious font files and establish monitoring procedures to detect anomalous memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.