Microsoft Windows null pointer dereference

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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8.8$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as problematic has been discovered in Microsoft Windows. Affected is an unknown function. Executing a manipulation can lead to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2011-1230. The attack needs to be launched locally. No exploit is available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Microsoft Windows (Operating System) (affected version unknown) and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects an unknown functionality. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

win32k.sys in the kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP1 and SP2, Windows Server 2008 Gold, SP2, R2, and R2 SP1, and Windows 7 Gold and SP1 allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application that triggers a NULL pointer dereference, a different vulnerability than other "Vulnerability Type 2" CVEs listed in MS11-034, aka "Win32k Null Pointer De-reference Vulnerability."

The weakness was published 04/12/2011 by Tarjei Mandt with Norman (Website). The advisory is shared for download at us-cert.gov. This vulnerability was named CVE-2011-1230. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack needs to be approached locally. The successful exploitation needs a single authentication. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 03/30/2025).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 53391 (MS11-034: Vulnerabilities in Windows Kernel-Mode Drivers Could Allow Elevation of Privilege (2506223)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows : Microsoft Bulletins. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 90701 (Microsoft Windows Kernel-Mode Drivers Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (MS11-034)).

A possible mitigation has been published before and not just after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (66412), Tenable (53391), SecurityFocus (BID 47230†), OSVDB (71736†) and SecurityTracker (ID 1025345†). Similar entries are available at VDB-4336, VDB-54584, VDB-56176 and VDB-56475. 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: 8.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 8.8

VulDB Base Score: 8.8
VulDB Temp Score: 8.8
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Null pointer dereference
CWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 53391
Nessus Name: MS11-034: Vulnerabilities in Windows Kernel-Mode Drivers Could Allow Elevation of Privilege (2506223)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 900283
OpenVAS Name: Windows Kernel-Mode Drivers Privilege Elevation Vulnerabilities (2506223)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

03/04/2011 🔍
04/12/2011 +39 days 🔍
04/12/2011 +0 days 🔍
04/12/2011 +0 days 🔍
04/12/2011 +0 days 🔍
04/12/2011 +0 days 🔍
04/13/2011 +0 days 🔍
04/13/2011 +0 days 🔍
03/23/2015 +1440 days 🔍
03/30/2025 +3660 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com
Product: microsoft.com

Advisory: us-cert.gov
Researcher: Tarjei Mandt
Organization: Norman
Status: Not defined
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2011-1230 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2011-1230
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-57100

OVAL: 🔍

X-Force: 66412
SecurityFocus: 47230 - Microsoft Windows Kernel 'Win32k.sys' (CVE-2011-1230) Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Secunia: 44156
OSVDB: 71736 - Microsoft Windows win32k.sys Driver Null Pointer De-reference Unspecified Local Privilege Escalation (2011-1230)
SecurityTracker: 1025345
Vulnerability Center: 31064 - [MS11-034] Microsoft Windows Win32k Null Pointer Dereference Privilege Escalation (CVE-2011-1230), High

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 03/23/2015 16:50
Updated: 03/30/2025 04:41
Changes: 03/23/2015 16:50 (61), 04/07/2017 16:05 (10), 11/02/2021 14:08 (6), 01/18/2025 19:25 (16), 03/30/2025 04:41 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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