The cybersecurity landscape is constantly changing, and new vulnerabilities are discovered all the time. One such vulnerability, named CVE-2022-29125, affected Windows Push Notifications Apps and could allow attackers to gain elevated privileges on a target system. In this long read, we'll break down what CVE-2022-29125 is, how it works, how it can be exploited, and what you can do to protect yourself.

What is CVE-2022-29125?

CVE-2022-29125 is an Elevation of Privilege (EoP) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows, particularly in how Windows Push Notifications Apps were handling certain permissions and objects. If successfully exploited, a local attacker could gain SYSTEM or Administrator privileges on a Windows machine. This vulnerability was deemed important and covered in Microsoft’s June 2022 security updates.

Here is the original Microsoft Security Advisory:
- Microsoft CVE-2022-29125 Security Update Guide

Why is Elevation of Privilege Bad?

Elevation of Privilege (EoP) means getting unauthorized access to higher system privileges. Imagine being a regular user on your computer, but finding a flaw that lets you act as the administrator. This would let malware or a rogue user install software, view sensitive files, or even take control of the machine entirely.

The Core Issue

At the heart of CVE-2022-29125 is the way Push Notifications Apps interacted with a system service and certain objects in memory. Normally, these objects are protected, but due to insufficient checks on permissions, it was possible for a regular user to tamper with them.

Windows Push Notifications Platform

Windows uses a system known as the "Push Notifications Platform" to deliver real-time notifications to apps. To manage notifications, the platform leverages system permissions and objects like pipes or handles.

The Vulnerable Mechanism

In this case, the vulnerability involved the way named pipes or handles related to Push Notifications could be accessed or replaced by a malicious local user. If an attacker manages to inject code or spoof objects, they could hijack the app's session and get SYSTEM-level access.

Step-by-Step Exploitation Scenario

Let's walk through a possible exploitation scenario, simplified for clarity.

Hijack the Handle:

Due to insufficient permission validation, the attacker crafts a malicious app or process that opens the targeted handle before the legitimate system process does.

Trigger Privileged Operation:

Once the legitimate process uses the hijacked object, the attacker’s code is executed with higher privileges.

Gain SYSTEM Rights:

At this point, the attacker escalates from a normal user to SYSTEM, gaining full control over the machine.

Example Code Snippet: Exploit Skeleton

Below is a theoretical skeleton example in C that shows how an attacker might open a named pipe and wait for the system to connect. (Note: This is for educational demonstration only!)

#include <stdio.h>
#include <windows.h>

int main() {
    HANDLE hPipe;
    char *pipeName = "\\\\.\\pipe\\PushNotificationPipe";

    // Create a malicious pipe
    hPipe = CreateNamedPipeA(
        pipeName,
        PIPE_ACCESS_DUPLEX,
        PIPE_TYPE_BYTE | PIPE_READMODE_BYTE | PIPE_WAIT,
        1,
        1024, 1024, , NULL
    );

    if (hPipe == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) {
        printf("Failed to open pipe: %d\n", GetLastError());
        return 1;
    }

    printf("Waiting for system process to connect...\n");
    ConnectNamedPipe(hPipe, NULL);

    // After SYSTEM process connects, inject code or perform privilege escalation

    printf("SYSTEM process connected! Now what? :) \n");

    // Cleanup
    CloseHandle(hPipe);
    return ;
}

*This code won't exploit a real system as-is, but it demonstrates the principle of hijacking a communication channel.*

Real-World Implications

A vulnerability like CVE-2022-29125 could be chained with other bugs—like a browser sandbox escape or phishing attack—to let cybercriminals take over fully-patched Windows systems. Since Push Notifications services are always on for many Windows 10 and 11 users, vulnerable machines were at risk until patches were applied.

Who Was at Risk?

- All supported versions of Windows before June 2022 patches: If you hadn’t updated, you were at risk.
- Systems running Push Notification Apps: Most standard Windows installations supported this feature out of the box.

References

- Microsoft CVE-2022-29125 Security Update Guide
- NIST NVD Entry for CVE-2022-29125
- Windows Push Notification Services Architecture
- Sysinternals Suite

Conclusion

While CVE-2022-29125 may seem like “just another Windows bug,” it illustrates how complex systems like Windows Push Notifications can introduce dangerous holes if not strictly coded and audited. These kinds of Elevation of Privilege flaws are favorites for attackers because they can be chained with other exploits for full system compromise.

To stay safe, keep your software updated and stay aware of emerging threats. Regular patching is the best defense against vulnerabilities like CVE-2022-29125.

Timeline

Published on: 05/10/2022 21:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 05/23/2022 17:29:00 UTC