CVE-2018-0983 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
Windows Storage Services in Windows 10 versions 1511, 1607, 1703 and 1709, Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server, version 1709 allows an elevation of privilege vulnerability due to the way objects are handled in memory, aka "Windows Storage Services Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability".
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2024
The Windows Storage Services Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability CVE-2018-0983 represents a critical security flaw affecting multiple Windows operating system versions including Windows 10 versions 1511, 1607, 1703, and 1709, along with Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server version 1709. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of objects within memory management structures, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges from standard user level to SYSTEM level access. The flaw specifically impacts the Windows Storage Services component which manages various storage operations including file system interactions, disk management, and storage device communication within the Windows operating system environment.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the inadequate validation and management of memory objects within the Windows Storage Services subsystem. When the system processes storage-related operations, it fails to properly validate the memory references associated with storage objects, leading to potential memory corruption scenarios. This memory handling flaw allows an attacker to manipulate storage service components in ways that should not be permitted, enabling arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges. The vulnerability manifests when legitimate storage operations interact with improperly validated memory structures, creating opportunities for privilege escalation attacks that bypass normal access controls and security boundaries.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0983 is severe as it provides attackers with a direct pathway to achieve SYSTEM-level privileges without requiring additional exploitation techniques or prerequisites. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they gain complete control over the affected system, enabling them to install malware, modify system files, access sensitive data, and potentially establish persistent backdoors. This elevation of privilege vulnerability significantly increases the attack surface and allows adversaries to perform actions that would normally be restricted to administrators or system processes. The vulnerability affects both desktop and server environments, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise settings where Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server version 1709 are commonly deployed.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate patch management for this vulnerability as Microsoft released security updates addressing the memory handling issues within the Windows Storage Services component. Organizations should implement the relevant security patches and updates from Microsoft to remediate this vulnerability, as no reliable workarounds exist for this particular flaw. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes 'Stack-based Buffer Overflow', and relates to ATT&CK technique T1068, 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', demonstrating how memory corruption vulnerabilities can be leveraged to achieve unauthorized system access. Regular security assessments and monitoring of system logs should be conducted to detect potential exploitation attempts, while network segmentation and principle of least privilege access controls can help limit the potential impact of successful attacks.