Microsoft Windows up to Server 2016 Kernel API NtImpersonateAnonymousToken access control

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.8$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Microsoft Windows up to Server 2016. This vulnerability affects the function NtImpersonateAnonymousToken of the component Kernel API. Such manipulation leads to access control. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2018-0751. The attack needs to be performed locally. Additionally, an exploit exists. It is advisable to implement a patch to correct this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Windows up to Server 2016 (Operating System). It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is the function NtImpersonateAnonymousToken of the component Kernel API. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a access control vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-264. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

The Windows Kernel API in Windows 8.1 and RT 8.1, Windows Server 2012 and R2, Windows 10 Gold, 1511, 1607, 1703 and 1709, Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server, version 1709 allows an elevation of privilege vulnerability due to the way the Kernel API enforces permissions, aka "Windows Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability". This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-0752.

The bug was discovered 01/03/2018. The weakness was released 01/03/2018 by James Forshaw with Google Project Zero as confirmed security update guide (Website). The advisory is shared for download at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2018-0751 since 12/01/2017. The attack needs to be approached locally. The successful exploitation requires a simple authentication. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. Technical details as well as a public exploit are known. The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1068. The advisory points out:

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the way that the Windows Kernel API enforces permissions. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could impersonate processes, interject cross-process communication, or interrupt system functionality.

A public exploit has been developed by Google Security Research and been published 2 weeks after the advisory. The exploit is available at exploit-db.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. As 0-day the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 105547 (KB4056888: Windows 10 Version 1511 January 2018 Security Update (Meltdown)(Spectre)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows : Microsoft Bulletins and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 91423 (Microsoft Windows Security Update (ADV180002) (Spectre/Meltdown)).

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Exploit-DB (43515), Tenable (105547) and SecurityFocus (BID 102359†). Entries connected to this vulnerability are available at VDB-111347, VDB-111348, VDB-111349 and VDB-111350. Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.8

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Vendor Base Score (Microsoft): 6.6
Vendor Vector (Microsoft): 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.1
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

Class: Access control
CWE: CWE-264
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Author: Google Security Research
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
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Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 105547
Nessus Name: KB4056888: Windows 10 Version 1511 January 2018 Security Update (Meltdown)(Spectre)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 870324
OpenVAS Name: Microsoft Windows Multiple Vulnerabilities (KB4056892)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
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Timelineinfo

12/01/2017 🔍
01/03/2018 +33 days 🔍
01/03/2018 +0 days 🔍
01/03/2018 +0 days 🔍
01/03/2018 +0 days 🔍
01/04/2018 +1 days 🔍
01/04/2018 +0 days 🔍
01/05/2018 +1 days 🔍
01/11/2018 +6 days 🔍
01/11/2018 +0 days 🔍
09/16/2025 +2804 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com
Product: microsoft.com

Advisory: portal.msrc.microsoft.com
Researcher: James Forshaw
Organization: Google Project Zero
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2018-0751 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2018-0751
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-111356

OVAL: 🔍

SecurityFocus: 102359 - Microsoft Windows Kernel CVE-2018-0751 Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
SecurityTracker: 1040095

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161215
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 01/05/2018 10:01
Updated: 09/16/2025 01:16
Changes: 01/05/2018 10:01 (98), 06/06/2020 12:16 (6), 01/28/2021 14:15 (2), 09/16/2025 01:16 (15)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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