Microsoft Security Bulletin MS15-023 - Important
Published: March 10, 2015
Version: 1.0
This security update resolves vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows. The most severe of the vulnerabilities could allow elevation of privilege if an attacker logs on to the system and runs a specially crafted application designed to increase privileges. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full administrative rights.
This security update is rated Important for all supported releases of Microsoft Windows. For more information, see the Affected Software section.
The security update addresses the vulnerabilities by changing how the kernel-mode driver handles objects in memory and by correcting how it validates a calling thread’s token. For more information about the vulnerabilities, see the Vulnerability Information section.
For more information about this update, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 3034344.
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.
| Operating System | Maximum Security Impact | Aggregate Severity Rating | Updates Replaced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Server 2003 | |||
| Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (3034344) | Information Disclosure | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2 (3034344) | Information Disclosure | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems (3034344) | Information Disclosure | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows Vista | |||
| Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (3034344) | Information Disclosure | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2 (3034344) | Information Disclosure | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows Server 2008 | |||
| Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (3034344) | Information Disclosure | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (3034344) | Information Disclosure | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2 (3034344) | Information Disclosure | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows 7 | |||
| Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 (3034344) | Information Disclosure | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (3034344) | Information Disclosure | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 | |||
| Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (3034344) | Information Disclosure | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 1 (3034344) | Information Disclosure | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 | |||
| Windows 8 for 32-bit Systems (3034344) | Elevation of Privilege | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows 8 for x64-based Systems (3034344) | Elevation of Privilege | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows 8.1 for 32-bit Systems (3034344) | Elevation of Privilege | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems (3034344) | Elevation of Privilege | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 | |||
| Windows Server 2012 (3034344) | Elevation of Privilege | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows Server 2012 R2 (3034344) | Elevation of Privilege | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows RT and Windows RT 8.1 | |||
| Windows RT[1](3034344) | Elevation of Privilege | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows RT 8.1[1](3034344) | Elevation of Privilege | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Server Core installation option | |||
| Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) (3034344) | Information Disclosure | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) (3034344) | Information Disclosure | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) (3034344) | Information Disclosure | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) (3034344) | Elevation of Privilege | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
| Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) (3034344) | Elevation of Privilege | Important | 3013455 in MS15-010 |
Note The update is available for Windows Technical Preview and Windows Server Technical Preview. Customers running these operating systems are encouraged to apply the update, which is available via Windows Update.
[1]This update is available via Windows Update only.
The following severity ratings 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 March bulletin summary.
| Vulnerability Severity Rating and Maximum Security Impact by Affected Software | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Affected Software | Microsoft Windows Kernel Memory Disclosure Vulnerability - CVE-2015-0077 | Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability - CVE-2015-0078 | Microsoft Windows Kernel Memory Disclosure Vulnerability - CVE-2015-0094 | Microsoft Windows Kernel Memory Disclosure Vulnerability - CVE-2015-0095 | Aggregate Severity Rating |
| Windows Server 2003 | |||||
| Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Not applicable | Important Information Disclosure | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2 (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Not applicable | Important Information Disclosure | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Not applicable | Important Information Disclosure | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Windows Vista | |||||
| Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Not applicable | Important Information Disclosure | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2 (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Not applicable | Important Information Disclosure | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Windows Server 2008 | |||||
| Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Not applicable | Important Information Disclosure | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Not applicable | Important Information Disclosure | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2 (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Not applicable | Important Information Disclosure | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Windows 7 | |||||
| Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Not applicable | Important Information Disclosure | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Not applicable | Important Information Disclosure | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 | |||||
| Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Not applicable | Important Information Disclosure | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 1 (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Not applicable | Important Information Disclosure | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 | |||||
| Windows 8 for 32-bit Systems (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Important Elevation of Privilege | Important Information Disclosure | Moderate Denial of Service | Important |
| Windows 8 for x64-based Systems (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Important Elevation of Privilege | Important Information Disclosure | Moderate Denial of Service | Important |
| Windows 8.1 for 32-bit Systems (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Important Elevation of Privilege | Important Information Disclosure | Moderate Denial of Service | Important |
| Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Important Elevation of Privilege | Important Information Disclosure | Moderate Denial of Service | Important |
| Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 | |||||
| Windows Server 2012 (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Important Elevation of Privilege | Important Information Disclosure | Moderate Denial of Service | Important |
| Windows Server 2012 R2 (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Important Elevation of Privilege | Important Information Disclosure | Moderate Denial of Service | Important |
| Windows RT and Windows RT 8.1 | |||||
| Windows RT (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Important Elevation of Privilege | Important Information Disclosure | Moderate Denial of Service | Important |
| Windows RT 8.1 (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Important Elevation of Privilege | Important Information Disclosure | Moderate Denial of Service | Important |
| Server Core installation option | |||||
| Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Not applicable | Important Information Disclosure | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Not applicable | Important Information Disclosure | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Not applicable | Important Information Disclosure | Important Information Disclosure | Important |
| Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Important Elevation of Privilege | Important Information Disclosure | Moderate Denial of Service | Important |
| Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) (3034344) | Important Information Disclosure | Important Elevation of Privilege | Important Information Disclosure | Moderate Denial of Service | Important |
An information disclosure vulnerability exists in the Windows kernel-mode driver that could allow the disclosure of kernel memory contents to an attacker. This vulnerability is caused when the Windows kernel-mode driver fails to initialize function buffers in a manner that removes the results of previous function calls.
An attacker could use this information disclosure vulnerability to gain information about the system that could then be combined with other attacks to compromise the system. The information disclosure vulnerability by itself does not allow arbitrary code execution. However, an attacker could use it in conjunction with another vulnerability to bypass security features such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR). The update addresses this vulnerability by changing how the kernel-mode driver handles objects in memory.
Microsoft received information about this vulnerability through coordinated vulnerability disclosure. When this security bulletin was issued, Microsoft had not received any information to indicate that this vulnerability had been publicly used to attack customers.
Microsoft has not identified any mitigating factors for this vulnerability.
Microsoft has not identified any workarounds for this vulnerability.
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the Windows kernel-mode driver that is caused when the kernel-mode driver fails to properly validate the calling thread’s token.
An authenticated attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could acquire administrator credentials and use them to elevate privileges. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full administrative rights. To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker would first have to log on to the system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application designed to increase privileges. The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how the kernel-mode driver validates a calling thread’s token.
Microsoft received information about this vulnerability through coordinated vulnerability disclosure. When this security bulletin was issued, Microsoft had not received any information to indicate that this vulnerability had been publicly used to attack customers.
Microsoft has not identified any mitigating factors for this vulnerability.
Microsoft has not identified any workarounds for this vulnerability.
An information disclosure vulnerability exists in the Windows kernel-mode driver that could allow the disclosure of kernel memory contents to an attacker. This vulnerability is caused when the Windows kernel-mode driver leaks private address information during a function call.
An attacker could use this information disclosure vulnerability to gain information about the system that could then be combined with other attacks to compromise the system. The information disclosure vulnerability by itself does not allow arbitrary code execution. However, an attacker could use it in conjunction with another vulnerability to bypass security features such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR). The update addresses this vulnerability by changing how the kernel-mode driver handles objects in memory.
Microsoft received information about this vulnerability through coordinated vulnerability disclosure. When this security bulletin was issued, Microsoft had not received any information to indicate that this vulnerability had been publicly used to attack customers.
Microsoft has not identified any mitigating factors for this vulnerability.
Microsoft has not identified any workarounds for this vulnerability.
An information disclosure vulnerability exists in the Windows kernel-mode driver that could allow the disclosure of kernel memory contents to an attacker. This vulnerability is caused when the Windows kernel-mode driver dereferences a NULL pointer. The NULL page is not typically allocated or mapped, so if the kernel dereferences a NULL pointer the usual result is a blue-screen condition. However, a blue-screen condition can be avoided if the NULL page is mapped and, because the NULL page resides in the user-mode memory address space, the attacker can copy kernel information into the NULL page and read its contents. This attack vector is not viable when NULL page mapping is disabled, which is the default state in Windows 8 and later operating systems.
An attacker could use this information disclosure vulnerability to gain information about the system that could then be combined with other attacks to compromise the system. The information disclosure vulnerability by itself does not allow arbitrary code execution. However, an attacker could use it in conjunction with another vulnerability to bypass security features such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR). The update addresses this vulnerability by changing how the kernel-mode driver handles objects in memory.
Microsoft received information about this vulnerability through coordinated vulnerability disclosure. When this security bulletin was issued, Microsoft had not received any information to indicate that this vulnerability had been publicly used to attack customers.
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 (March 10, 2015): Bulletin published.
Page generated 2015-03-11 10:10Z-07:00.