CVE-2019-0600 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability exists when the Human Interface Devices (HID) component improperly handles objects in memory, aka 'HID Information Disclosure Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2019-0601.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2023
The HID information disclosure vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-0600 represents a critical flaw within the Windows operating system's Human Interface Devices component that enables unauthorized access to sensitive memory contents. This vulnerability specifically affects how the HID subsystem processes and manages objects in memory, creating potential pathways for attackers to extract confidential information from system resources. The issue manifests when the HID driver fails to properly validate or sanitize memory objects during processing operations, allowing for information leakage that could expose system internals or user data.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper memory handling mechanisms within the HID component of Windows operating systems. When the system processes Human Interface Device communications, particularly those involving keyboard, mouse, or other input devices, the HID driver does not adequately protect memory objects from unauthorized access or disclosure. This flaw operates at the kernel level where device drivers interact with system memory, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges. The vulnerability falls under CWE-200, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure" and represents a classic case of insufficient input validation leading to unintended data disclosure.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations relying on Windows systems, as it can potentially expose sensitive information through memory dumps or direct memory access attacks. Attackers could leverage this weakness to extract system configuration details, user credentials, or other confidential data that might be stored in memory during HID operations. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked data could serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks, including privilege escalation or lateral movement within network environments. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where multiple HID devices are connected and where the potential for information leakage increases exponentially with device count.
The exploitation of CVE-2019-0600 aligns with several tactics outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to credential access and defense evasion. Adversaries could potentially use this vulnerability to gather system information for reconnaissance purposes, or to extract credentials stored in memory during HID operations. The vulnerability's presence in the HID subsystem means that any device connected to the system could potentially serve as an attack vector, making it particularly concerning for environments with numerous peripheral devices. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring for unusual memory access patterns as part of their defensive strategy.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches, which address the improper memory handling within the HID component. System administrators should also implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous memory access patterns or unauthorized information disclosure attempts. Additionally, organizations should review their device connection policies to limit unnecessary HID device connections and consider disabling unused input device drivers. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-200 emphasizes the need for comprehensive memory protection mechanisms, including proper input validation and memory sanitization routines. Regular security assessments should include verification of HID driver configurations and memory protection settings to prevent exploitation of this and similar information disclosure vulnerabilities.