CVE-2016-0099
Published: 09 March 2016
Summary
CVE-2016-0099 is a high-severity Classic Buffer Overflow (CWE-120) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Server 2008. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 0.4% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-2 (Flaw Remediation) and AC-3 (Access Enforcement).
Deeper analysis
The vulnerability is an elevation of privilege flaw in the Secondary Logon Service of Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT 8.1, and Windows 10 Gold and 1511. It stems from improper processing of request handles and is tracked as CWE-120, carrying a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8.
Local authenticated users can exploit the issue by running a crafted application on an affected system, resulting in the ability to gain higher privileges on the host. The attack requires no user interaction beyond executing the malicious code and does not need network access.
Microsoft addressed the vulnerability in security bulletin MS16-032, which supplies patches for the listed Windows versions; administrators should apply the updates according to the bulletin guidance. Public exploit code for the flaw has been published on Exploit-DB.
The issue enables straightforward local privilege escalation on unpatched systems and has been publicly demonstrated since its disclosure in March 2016.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2016-0137
Vulnerability details
The Secondary Logon Service in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT 8.1, and Windows 10 Gold and 1511 does not properly process…
more
request handles, which allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Secondary Logon Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
- CWE(s)
- KEV Date Added
- 03 March 2022
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Directly requires timely installation of the MS16-032 security update that corrects the handle-processing flaw in Secondary Logon.
Enforces the operating-system access-control policy that the vulnerable Secondary Logon service failed to uphold, blocking unauthorized privilege transitions.
Limits privileges assigned to user processes and services, reducing the impact and likelihood of successful local escalation via the crafted application.