CVE-2018-0965 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
A remote code execution vulnerability exists when Windows Hyper-V on a host server fails to properly validate input from an authenticated user on a guest operating system, aka "Windows Hyper-V Remote Code Execution Vulnerability." This affects Windows Server 2016, Windows 10, Windows 10 Servers. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-8439.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0965 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within Microsoft Windows Hyper-V virtualization infrastructure. This vulnerability specifically targets the host server's handling of input validation from authenticated guest operating systems, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on the host system. The flaw exists in the Hyper-V hypervisor's validation mechanisms, which fail to properly sanitize or verify input data originating from guest virtual machines that have established authentication credentials. This represents a significant escalation of privileges vulnerability where a compromised guest system could potentially compromise the entire host infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within Hyper-V's inter-vm communication channels. When a guest operating system successfully authenticates with the host hypervisor, the system should maintain strict validation boundaries to prevent malicious data injection. However, in this case, the validation process becomes insufficient, allowing crafted input from the guest to bypass security checks. This flaw falls under the CWE-20 category of "Improper Input Validation" and demonstrates the classic pattern of privilege escalation through inadequate boundary checking in virtualization environments. The vulnerability specifically impacts systems running Windows Server 2016, Windows 10, and Windows 10 Server editions, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments that commonly deploy these operating systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0965 extends far beyond individual system compromise, as it fundamentally undermines the security isolation that virtualization technologies are designed to provide. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain complete control over the host server, potentially leading to data breaches, lateral movement within networks, and the compromise of multiple virtual machines running on the same host. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and control execution, as the attacker can execute arbitrary code on the host system. The implications are particularly severe in cloud computing environments where multiple tenants share the same physical infrastructure, as a single compromised guest could potentially affect all other virtual machines on the same host server.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying Microsoft security patches as soon as they become available through the Microsoft Security Response Center. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior in virtualized environments, particularly around Hyper-V communication channels. System administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as disabling unnecessary Hyper-V features, restricting guest-to-host communication, and implementing robust intrusion detection systems specifically monitoring for virtualization-related attacks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches across virtualization infrastructure and demonstrates the critical need for layered security approaches in virtualized environments where a single point of failure can compromise entire systems.