CVE Vulnerabilities

CVE-2012-1851

Use of Externally-Controlled Format String

Published: Aug 15, 2012 | Modified: Dec 07, 2023
CVSS 3.x
N/A
Source:
NVD
CVSS 2.x
10 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
RedHat/V2
RedHat/V3
Ubuntu

Format string vulnerability in the Print Spooler service in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2, R2, and R2 SP1, and Windows 7 Gold and SP1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted response, aka Print Spooler Service Format String Vulnerability.

Weakness

The product uses a function that accepts a format string as an argument, but the format string originates from an external source.

Affected Software

Name Vendor Start Version End Version
Windows_server_2008 Microsoft * *
Windows_server_2008 Microsoft * *
Windows_server_2008 Microsoft * *
Windows_xp Microsoft - -
Windows_xp Microsoft * *
Windows_server_2008 Microsoft * *
Windows_7 Microsoft * *
Windows_7 Microsoft * *
Windows_server_2008 Microsoft * *
Windows_server_2003 Microsoft * *
Windows_vista Microsoft * *
Windows_7 Microsoft * *
Windows_7 Microsoft * *

Extended Description

When an attacker can modify an externally-controlled format string, this can lead to buffer overflows, denial of service, or data representation problems. It should be noted that in some circumstances, such as internationalization, the set of format strings is externally controlled by design. If the source of these format strings is trusted (e.g. only contained in library files that are only modifiable by the system administrator), then the external control might not itself pose a vulnerability.

Potential Mitigations

References