CVE-2023-35362 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 07/11/2023
Windows Clip Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2023
The Windows Clip Service elevation of privilege vulnerability represents a critical security flaw within the Windows operating system that allows unauthorized users to escalate their privileges from standard user level to administrator rights. This vulnerability specifically affects the Windows clipboard service component that manages clipboard operations across different processes and applications. The flaw stems from improper access control mechanisms within the clipboard service implementation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit insufficient privilege checks during clipboard data processing operations.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the inadequate validation of user permissions when processing clipboard data through the Windows Clip Service. When applications interact with the clipboard service to copy, cut, or paste data, the service fails to properly verify that the requesting process has appropriate authorization levels. This weakness enables attackers to manipulate clipboard operations in ways that bypass normal security boundaries. The vulnerability manifests when a low-privilege user process attempts to access clipboard resources that should be restricted to higher privilege contexts, allowing for privilege escalation through crafted clipboard data manipulation techniques.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with the foundation for broader system compromise. Once elevated to administrator privileges, malicious actors can modify critical system files, install unauthorized software, disable security services, and establish persistent access mechanisms within the compromised Windows environment. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because clipboard operations are frequent and often automated, making exploitation relatively simple and stealthy. Attackers can leverage this weakness in conjunction with other techniques to achieve complete system control without requiring additional attack vectors or complex exploitation methods.
Security researchers have classified this vulnerability under CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management within software systems, specifically focusing on inadequate access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized privilege escalation. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes the use of local privilege escalation techniques to gain elevated system privileges. Organizations affected by this vulnerability face significant risk exposure as attackers can exploit it through various attack vectors including social engineering campaigns, malicious software delivery, or compromised applications that interact with clipboard services. The persistence of this vulnerability across multiple Windows versions demonstrates the systemic nature of the access control flaw within the operating system's core services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of security patches provided by Microsoft through regular Windows updates and security bulletins. System administrators should ensure that all Windows systems receive timely patch deployment to address the clipboard service privilege escalation flaw. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict clipboard access from untrusted applications, monitoring clipboard service activity for anomalous behavior patterns, and conducting regular security audits of system configurations. Organizations should also consider deploying endpoint protection solutions with clipboard monitoring capabilities to detect and prevent malicious clipboard manipulation attempts. Network segmentation and least privilege access controls further reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts by limiting lateral movement capabilities within compromised environments.