Vulnerabilities > CVE-2016-0179 - Improper Access Control vulnerability in Microsoft products

047910
CVSS 7.8 - HIGH
Attack vector
LOCAL
Attack complexity
LOW
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
HIGH
Integrity impact
HIGH
Availability impact
HIGH
local
low complexity
microsoft
CWE-284
nessus
NVD
Published: 2016-05-11
Updated: 2024-11-21

Summary

Windows Shell in Microsoft Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows RT 8.1, and Windows 10 Gold and 1511 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted web site, aka "Windows Shell Remote Code Execution Vulnerability."

Vulnerable Configurations

Part Description Count
OS
Microsoft
5

Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • Embedding Scripts within Scripts
    An attack of this type exploits a programs' vulnerabilities that are brought on by allowing remote hosts to execute scripts. The attacker leverages this capability to execute scripts to execute his/her own script by embedding it within other scripts that the target software is likely to execute. The attacker must have the ability to inject script into script that is likely to be executed. If this is done, then the attacker can potentially launch a variety of probes and attacks against the web server's local environment, in many cases the so-called DMZ, back end resources the web server can communicate with, and other hosts. With the proliferation of intermediaries, such as Web App Firewalls, network devices, and even printers having JVMs and Web servers, there are many locales where an attacker can inject malicious scripts. Since this attack pattern defines scripts within scripts, there are likely privileges to execute said attack on the host. Of course, these attacks are not solely limited to the server side, client side scripts like Ajax and client side JavaScript can contain malicious scripts as well. In general all that is required is for there to be sufficient privileges to execute a script, but not protected against writing.
  • Signature Spoofing by Key Theft
    An attacker obtains an authoritative or reputable signer's private signature key by theft and then uses this key to forge signatures from the original signer to mislead a victim into performing actions that benefit the attacker.

Msbulletin

bulletin_idMS16-057
bulletin_url
date2016-05-10T00:00:00
impactRemote Code Execution
knowledgebase_id3156987
knowledgebase_url
severityCritical
titleSecurity Update for Windows Shell

Nessus

NASL familyWindows : Microsoft Bulletins
NASL idSMB_NT_MS16-057.NASL
descriptionThe remote Windows host is missing a security update. It is, therefore, affected by a remote code execution vulnerability in Windows Shell due to improper handling of objects in memory. An unauthenticated, remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability by convincing a user to visit a crafted website, resulting in the execution of arbitrary code in the context of the current user.
last seen2020-06-01
modified2020-06-02
plugin id91007
published2016-05-10
reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2016-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/91007
titleMS16-057: Security Update for Windows Shell (3156987)
code
#
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(91007);
  script_version("1.9");
  script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/11/20");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2016-0179");
  script_bugtraq_id(89868);
  script_xref(name:"MSFT", value:"MS16-057");
  script_xref(name:"MSKB", value:"3156059");
  script_xref(name:"MSKB", value:"3156387");
  script_xref(name:"MSKB", value:"3156421");
  script_xref(name:"IAVA", value:"2016-A-0131");

  script_name(english:"MS16-057: Security Update for Windows Shell (3156987)");
  script_summary(english:"Checks the version of Windows.ui.dll");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The remote host is affected by a remote code execution vulnerability.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The remote Windows host is missing a security update. It is,
therefore, affected by a remote code execution vulnerability in
Windows Shell due to improper handling of objects in memory. An
unauthenticated, remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability by
convincing a user to visit a crafted website, resulting in the
execution of arbitrary code in the context of the current user.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/SecurityBulletins/2016/ms16-057");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"Microsoft has released a set of patches for Windows 8.1, RT 8.1,
2012 R2, and 10.");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2016-0179");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2016/05/10");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2016/05/10");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2016/05/10");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:microsoft:windows");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"stig_severity", value:"II");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Windows : Microsoft Bulletins");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2016-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("smb_hotfixes.nasl", "ms_bulletin_checks_possible.nasl");
  script_require_keys("SMB/MS_Bulletin_Checks/Possible");
  script_require_ports(139, 445, "Host/patch_management_checks");

  exit(0);
}

include("audit.inc");
include("smb_hotfixes_fcheck.inc");
include("smb_hotfixes.inc");
include("smb_func.inc");
include("misc_func.inc");

get_kb_item_or_exit("SMB/MS_Bulletin_Checks/Possible");

bulletin = 'MS16-057';
kbs = make_list('3156059', '3156387', '3156421');

if (get_kb_item("Host/patch_management_checks")) hotfix_check_3rd_party(bulletin:bulletin, kbs:kbs, severity:SECURITY_HOLE);

get_kb_item_or_exit("SMB/Registry/Enumerated");
get_kb_item_or_exit("SMB/WindowsVersion", exit_code:1);

if (hotfix_check_sp_range(win81:'0', win10:'0') <= 0) audit(AUDIT_OS_SP_NOT_VULN);
if (hotfix_check_server_core() == 1) audit(AUDIT_WIN_SERVER_CORE);

productname = get_kb_item_or_exit("SMB/ProductName", exit_code:1);
if ("Windows 8" >< productname && "Windows 8.1" >!< productname)
  audit(AUDIT_OS_SP_NOT_VULN);

share = hotfix_get_systemdrive(as_share:TRUE, exit_on_fail:TRUE);
if (!is_accessible_share(share:share)) audit(AUDIT_SHARE_FAIL, share);

if (
  # Windows 10 1511 / Threshold 2
  hotfix_is_vulnerable(os:"10", sp:0, file:"Windows.ui.dll", version:"10.0.10586.306", min_version: "10.0.10586.0", dir:"\system32", bulletin:bulletin, kb:'3156421') ||

  # Windows 10
  hotfix_is_vulnerable(os:"10", sp:0, file:"Windows.ui.dll", version:"10.0.10240.16841", min_version: "10.0.10240.16000", dir:"\system32", bulletin:bulletin, kb:'3156387') ||

  # Windows 8.1 / Windows Server 2012 R2
  hotfix_is_vulnerable(os:"6.3", sp:0, file:"Windows.ui.dll", version:"6.3.9600.18302", min_version:"6.3.9600.16000", dir:"\system32", bulletin:bulletin, kb:'3156059')
)
{
  set_kb_item(name:'SMB/Missing/'+bulletin, value:TRUE);
  hotfix_security_hole();
  hotfix_check_fversion_end();
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  hotfix_check_fversion_end();
  audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
}

References