CVE-2022-22002 Overview
CVE-2022-22002 is a Denial of Service (DoS) vulnerability affecting the Windows User Account Profile Picture functionality across multiple versions of Microsoft Windows operating systems. This vulnerability allows a local attacker with low privileges to cause a denial of service condition by exploiting improper handling within the user account profile picture component.
Critical Impact
A local attacker can exploit this vulnerability to disrupt system availability by targeting the Windows User Account Profile Picture functionality, potentially affecting user login experiences and system stability.
Affected Products
- Microsoft Windows 10 (multiple versions including 1607, 1809, 1909, 20H2, 21H1, 21H2)
- Microsoft Windows 11 (x64 and ARM64)
- Microsoft Windows 8.1 (x64 and x86)
- Microsoft Windows RT 8.1
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2
- Microsoft Windows Server 2016
- Microsoft Windows Server 2019
- Microsoft Windows Server 2022 and 20H2
Discovery Timeline
- February 9, 2022 - CVE-2022-22002 published to NVD
- November 21, 2024 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2022-22002
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability resides in the Windows User Account Profile Picture handling mechanism. The flaw enables a locally authenticated attacker to trigger a denial of service condition without requiring user interaction. The attack requires local access to the target system, meaning the attacker must already have some form of authenticated presence on the machine.
The vulnerability specifically targets the availability of the system, with no impact on confidentiality or integrity. This indicates that while the attacker cannot steal data or modify system configurations through this vulnerability alone, they can disrupt normal operations related to user profile handling.
Root Cause
The root cause of CVE-2022-22002 stems from improper handling of user account profile picture data within Windows. While Microsoft has not disclosed the specific technical details (classified as NVD-CWE-noinfo), the vulnerability likely involves resource handling issues when processing profile picture data, leading to conditions that cause system components to become unresponsive or crash.
Attack Vector
The attack vector for this vulnerability is local, requiring an attacker to have authenticated access to the target system. The exploitation requires low privileges, meaning a standard user account can potentially trigger the denial of service condition. No user interaction is required beyond the attacker's initial access, making automated exploitation feasible once access is obtained.
An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by manipulating profile picture data or related system calls in a way that triggers the improper handling condition. This could result in the user profile service becoming unresponsive, affecting login functionality or causing related system components to fail.
Detection Methods for CVE-2022-22002
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected crashes or hangs of the User Profile Service (ProfSvc)
- Abnormal error events in Windows Event Logs related to user account profile operations
- System instability during user login or profile switching operations
Detection Strategies
- Monitor Windows Event Logs for repeated failures in User Profile Service operations
- Implement endpoint detection rules to identify abnormal access patterns to user profile picture files and directories
- Deploy behavioral analysis to detect unusual resource consumption by profile-related processes
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed logging for Windows User Profile Service events
- Configure alerts for unexpected service crashes or restarts of ProfSvc
- Monitor for unusual patterns in user login failures that may indicate exploitation attempts
How to Mitigate CVE-2022-22002
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the latest security updates from Microsoft to all affected systems
- Restrict local access to systems to authorized users only
- Review and audit local user account privileges to minimize potential attack surface
- Enable Windows Defender and ensure endpoint protection is actively monitoring
Patch Information
Microsoft has released security updates to address CVE-2022-22002. Organizations should apply the patches provided through Windows Update or the Microsoft Update Catalog. For detailed patch information and download links, refer to the Microsoft Security Response Center advisory.
Workarounds
- Limit local user access to only essential personnel until patches can be applied
- Implement additional monitoring on systems where immediate patching is not possible
- Consider using application control policies to restrict unauthorized modifications to user profile data
# Check Windows Update status for security patches
Get-HotFix | Where-Object {$_.InstalledOn -gt (Get-Date).AddDays(-30)} | Format-Table -AutoSize
# Verify User Profile Service status
Get-Service -Name ProfSvc | Select-Object Status, StartType, Name
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
