CVE-2023-28275: Windows 10 1507 WDAC RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2023-28275 Overview

CVE-2023-28275 is a Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability affecting the Microsoft Windows Data Access Components (WDAC) OLE DB provider for SQL Server. This vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a target system when a user interacts with malicious content, potentially leading to complete system compromise.

Critical Impact

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user, potentially leading to full system compromise across a wide range of Windows client and server operating systems.

Affected Products

• Microsoft Windows 10 (versions 1507, 1607, 1809, 20H2, 21H2, 22H2)
• Microsoft Windows 11 (versions 21H2, 22H2)
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (SP2, R2 SP1)
• Microsoft Windows Server 2012 (including R2)
• Microsoft Windows Server 2016
• Microsoft Windows Server 2019
• Microsoft Windows Server 2022

Discovery Timeline

• April 11, 2023 - CVE-2023-28275 published to NVD
• November 21, 2024 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2023-28275

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability resides in the Microsoft Windows Data Access Components (WDAC) OLE DB provider for SQL Server. The OLE DB provider is a critical component that enables applications to access data from various data sources using a uniform interface. When processing specially crafted SQL Server connections or data, the vulnerable component fails to properly validate input, leading to a heap-based buffer overflow condition (CWE-122).

The vulnerability requires user interaction to exploit, meaning an attacker must convince a user to connect to a malicious SQL server or open specially crafted content. Once triggered, the heap-based buffer overflow can corrupt memory structures, allowing the attacker to gain code execution in the context of the vulnerable process.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) in the OLE DB provider for SQL Server. This occurs when the component allocates a fixed-size buffer on the heap but fails to properly validate the size of incoming data before copying it into the buffer. When data exceeds the allocated buffer size, adjacent heap memory is overwritten, potentially corrupting critical data structures or function pointers.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for CVE-2023-28275 is network-based and requires user interaction. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by:

1. Setting up a malicious SQL Server or crafting malicious database connection content
2. Convincing a victim to connect to the attacker-controlled server or open the malicious content
3. When the victim's system processes the connection through the vulnerable OLE DB provider, the heap overflow is triggered
4. The overflow corrupts heap metadata or adjacent memory, allowing the attacker to hijack control flow
5. Arbitrary code executes with the privileges of the current user

The vulnerability can be exploited through scenarios where applications use the WDAC OLE DB provider to establish SQL Server connections, including database management tools, custom applications, and scripts that utilize OLE DB connectivity.

Detection Methods for CVE-2023-28275

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected crashes or errors in applications using OLE DB SQL Server connectivity
• Suspicious outbound connections to unknown SQL Server instances on port 1433
• Abnormal memory consumption or heap corruption errors in processes utilizing MSOLEDBSQL.dll or related OLE DB components
• Unexpected child processes spawned from database client applications

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for unusual SQL Server connection attempts to external or untrusted servers
• Implement endpoint detection rules to identify heap corruption or exploitation attempts in OLE DB provider components
• Deploy network monitoring to detect connections to suspicious or unknown SQL Server endpoints
• Use application whitelisting to control which applications can establish database connections

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable Windows Event Logging for application crashes and exceptions related to database connectivity components
• Configure SentinelOne Singularity to monitor for behavioral anomalies in processes utilizing OLE DB providers
• Implement network segmentation to restrict database connectivity to known, trusted SQL Server instances
• Review and audit database connection strings in applications for unauthorized modifications

How to Mitigate CVE-2023-28275

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the Microsoft security update released in April 2023 to all affected Windows systems immediately
• Prioritize patching systems that regularly connect to external SQL Server databases
• Restrict network access to trusted SQL Server instances only
• Educate users about the risks of connecting to untrusted database servers

Patch Information

Microsoft has released security updates to address this vulnerability as part of their April 2023 Patch Tuesday release. The official security advisory and patch information can be found at the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) advisory for CVE-2023-28275. Organizations should apply the appropriate update for their Windows version through Windows Update, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), or Microsoft Update Catalog.

Workarounds

• Restrict database connections to known and trusted SQL Server instances using firewall rules
• Implement network segmentation to isolate systems that require SQL Server connectivity
• Consider disabling the OLE DB provider for SQL Server on systems where it is not required
• Use alternative database connectivity methods that do not rely on the vulnerable component where feasible

Administrators can restrict OLE DB provider usage through Group Policy or by configuring application-level connection restrictions. Network firewall rules should block outbound SQL Server traffic (TCP port 1433) except to approved database servers to reduce the attack surface.