CVE-2023-32084 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 07/11/2023
HTTP.sys Denial of Service Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2023
This vulnerability resides in the HTTP.sys kernel-mode driver component of microsoft windows operating systems and represents a critical remote code execution flaw that can be exploited to cause denial of service conditions. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of crafted http requests within the protocol stack, specifically when processing certain header values or request formats that trigger buffer overflows or memory corruption conditions within the kernel space. The flaw affects multiple versions of windows including server 2008 r2 through windows 10 version 1903 and later releases, making it particularly dangerous due to its widespread impact across enterprise environments.
The technical implementation involves memory management issues where http.sys fails to properly validate input parameters during request processing, allowing attackers to craft malicious http requests that can trigger stack or heap corruption when the kernel driver attempts to process these malformed inputs. This vulnerability maps directly to cwe-121 stack-based buffer overflow and cwe-787 out-of-bounds write conditions as defined by the common weakness enumeration framework. The attack vector requires only network access to the affected system, making it particularly dangerous for web servers and applications that expose http services directly to untrusted networks.
From an operational impact perspective, successful exploitation can lead to complete system crashes requiring manual restarts, effectively causing denial of service conditions that can disrupt business operations for extended periods. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level where normal user-mode protections are bypassed, and attackers can potentially leverage this as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. This flaw directly aligns with attack techniques described in the mitre att&ck framework under initial access and privilege escalation tactics, as exploitation can lead to system compromise and further lateral movement within networks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying microsoft security updates and patches released through the windows update mechanism or direct download from microsoft's security center. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to limit access to affected systems and restrict http traffic where possible. Additional protective measures include monitoring network traffic for suspicious http request patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify potential exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider disabling unnecessary http services and ensuring that only required web applications are exposed to external networks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of the vulnerable software versions within the organization's infrastructure.