Microsoft Security Bulletin MS16-137 - Important

Published: January 10, 2017 | Updated: December 13, 2016

Version: 2.0

This security update resolves vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows. The more severe of the vulnerabilities could allow elevation of privilege. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker would first need to authenticate to the target, domain-joined system using valid user credentials. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could elevate their permissions from unprivileged user account to administrator. The attacker could then install programs; view, change or delete data; or create new accounts. The attacker could subsequently attempt to elevate by locally executing a specially crafted application designed to manipulate NTLM password change requests.

This security update is rated Important for all supported releases of Microsoft Windows. For more information, see the AffectedSoftwareand Vulnerability Severity Ratings section.

The security update addresses the vulnerabilities by:

• Updating Windows NTLM to harden the password change cache.
• Changing the way that LSASS handles specially crafted requests.
• Correcting how Windows Virtual Secure Mode handles objects in memory.

For more information about the vulnerabilities, see the Vulnerability Information section.

For more information about this update, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 3199173.

The following software versions or editions are affected. Versions or editions that are not listed are either past their support life cycle or are not affected. To determine the support life cycle for your software version or edition, see Microsoft Support Lifecycle.

The severity ratings indicated for each affected software assume the potential maximum impact of the vulnerability. For information regarding the likelihood, within 30 days of this security bulletin’s release, of the exploitability of the vulnerability in relation to its severity rating and security impact, please see the Exploitability Index in the November bulletin summary.

^[1]This update is only available via Windows Update.

^[2]Windows 10 updates are cumulative. The monthly security release includes all security fixes for vulnerabilities that affect Windows 10, in addition to non-security updates. The updates are available via the Microsoft Update Catalog.

^[3]Beginning with the October 2016 release, Microsoft is changing the update servicing model for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2. For more information, please see this Microsoft TechNet article.

*The Updates Replaced column shows only the latest update in any chain of superseded updates. For a comprehensive list of updates replaced, go to the Microsoft Update Catalog, search for the update KB number, and then view update details (updates replaced information is provided on the Package Details tab).

Note A vulnerability discussed in this bulletin affects Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview 5. To be protected from the vulnerability, Microsoft recommends that customers running this operating system apply the current update, which is available from Windows Update. 

An information disclosure vulnerability exists when Windows Virtual Secure Mode improperly handles objects in memory. A locally-authenticated attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could be able to read sensitive information on the target system.

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker could run a specially crafted application on the target system. Note that the information disclosure vulnerability by itself would not be sufficient for an attacker to compromise a system. However, an attacker could combine this vulnerability with additional vulnerabilities to further exploit the system. The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Windows Virtual Secure Mode handles objects in memory.

Microsoft has not identified any mitigating factors for this vulnerability.

Microsoft has not identified any workarounds for this vulnerability.

This security update corrects a denial of service vulnerability in the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) caused when an attacker sends a specially crafted request. A remote unauthenticated, attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could cause the target system to become non-responsive.

The security update addresses the vulnerability by changing the way that LSASS handles specially crafted requests. 

Microsoft has not identified any mitigating factors for this vulnerability.

Microsoft has not identified any workarounds for this vulnerability.

This security update corrects a local elevation of privilege that exists when Windows fails to properly handle NTLM password change requests. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could elevate their permissions from unprivileged user account to administrator. The attacker could then install programs; view, change or delete data; or create new accounts.

To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker would first need to authenticate to the target, domain-joined system using valid user credentials. The attacker could subsequently attempt to elevate by locally executing a specially crafted application designed to manipulate NTLM authentication requests.

The update addresses the vulnerability by updating Windows NTLM to harden the password change cache.

Microsoft has not identified any mitigating factors for this vulnerability.

Microsoft has not identified any workarounds for this vulnerability.

For Security Update Deployment information, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article referenced in the Executive Summary.

Microsoft recognizes the efforts of those in the security community who help us protect customers through coordinated vulnerability disclosure. See Acknowledgments for more information.

The information provided in the Microsoft Knowledge Base is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Microsoft disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event shall Microsoft Corporation or its suppliers be liable for any damages whatsoever including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, loss of business profits or special damages, even if Microsoft Corporation or its suppliers have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages so the foregoing limitation may not apply.

• V1.0 (January 10, 2017): Bulletin published.
• V2.0 (December 13, 2016): Revised bulletin to announce the following updates have been rereleased with a detection change that addresses a supersedence issue that certain customers experienced when attempting to install the November Security Only updates.
  • Security Only update 3197867 for all supported releases of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 3197867.
  • Monthly Rollup 3197868 for all supported releases of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 3197868.
  • Security Only update 3197876 for Windows Server 2012. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 3197876.
  • Monthly Rollup 3197877 for Windows Server 2012. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 3197877.
  • Security Only update 3197873 for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 3197873.
  • Monthly Rollup 3197874 for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 3197874.
• These are detection changes only. There were no changes to the update files. Customers who have already successfully installed any of these updates do not need to take any action. For more information, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article for the respective update.
• V2.1 (January 10, 2017): Updated the vulnerability description for CVE-2016-7238. This is an informational change only.

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