Privilege escalation in Microsoft Windows

1) Path traversal

EUVDB-ID: #VU5578

Risk: Critical

CVSSv4.0: 8.6 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:A/U:Red]

CVE-ID: CVE-2015-0016

CWE-ID: CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')

Exploit availability: Yes

Description

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to gain elevated privileges on the target system.

The weakness exists due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input within TS WebProxy Windows component. A remote attacker can trick the victim into downloading a specially crafted file and execute it with privileges of the current user.  

Successful exploitation of the vulnerability may result in full control of the vulnerable system.

Note: the vulnerability was being actively exploited.

Mitigation

Install update from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

Windows: RT - 8.1 RT

Windows Server: 2008 R2 - 2012 R2

CPE2.3

• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:RT:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:Vista:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:8.1_RT:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server:2008_R2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server:2012_R2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

External links

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/security/ms15-004

Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Yes. This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote non-authenticated attacker via the Internet.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

Yes. This vulnerability is being exploited in the wild.