Detect Microsoft Windows Video ActiveX Control Remote Code Execution (CVE-2008-0015) in Splunk
Detects exploitation attempts targeting the Microsoft Windows Video ActiveX Control vulnerability (CVE-2008-0015), addressed in MS09-032. The msvidctl.dll ActiveX control contains a memory corruption flaw that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted web page. This vulnerability is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and has been actively exploited in drive-by download campaigns.
MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic
- Initial Access Execution
SPL Detection Query
index=windows (source="WinEventLog:Security" OR source="WinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational")
| eval isSuspiciousParent=if(match(ParentImage, "(?i)iexplore\.exe"), 1, 0)
| eval isSuspiciousChild=if(match(Image, "(?i)(cmd|powershell|wscript|cscript|rundll32|regsvr32)\.exe"), 1, 0)
| eval referencesClsid=if(match(CommandLine, "(?i)(0955AC62-BF2E-4CBA-A2B9-A63F772D46CF|msvidctl)"), 1, 0)
| where (isSuspiciousParent=1 AND isSuspiciousChild=1) OR referencesClsid=1
| table _time, host, user, ParentImage, Image, CommandLine
| sort -_timeIdentifies Internet Explorer spawning suspicious child processes or command lines referencing the CVE-2008-0015 ActiveX CLSID via Sysmon or Windows Security event logs.
Data Sources
Required Sourcetypes
False Positives & Tuning
- Legitimate video streaming applications instantiating the ActiveX control through IE
- Authorized penetration testing or vulnerability scanning tools referencing the CLSID
- Automated build or QA systems using Internet Explorer for legacy compatibility testing
Other platforms for CVE-2008-0015
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 4 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1Verify msvidctl ActiveX Kill Bit Absence
Expected signal: Registry query event (Sysmon EventID 13 or equivalent) accessing the ActiveX Compatibility key for the msvidctl CLSID.
- Test 2Simulate IE Spawning cmd.exe (Post-Exploitation Child Process)
Expected signal: Sysmon EventID 1 showing cmd.exe spawned in close temporal proximity to an iexplore.exe process; may also generate network events if IE loads a page.
- Test 3Reference msvidctl CLSID in Command Line
Expected signal: Sysmon EventID 1 with CommandLine containing the CLSID string {0955AC62-BF2E-4CBA-A2B9-A63F772D46CF}.
- Test 4Attempt to Remove msvidctl Kill Bit (Attacker Persistence Simulation)
Expected signal: Sysmon EventID 12 (registry key deleted) or EventID 14 targeting the ActiveX Compatibility key for the msvidctl CLSID.
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