Detect Microsoft DirectX NULL Byte Overwrite Vulnerability (CVE-2009-1537) in Elastic Security
CVE-2009-1537 is a NULL byte overwrite vulnerability in Microsoft DirectX (quartz.dll) that can be exploited via a maliciously crafted QuickTime media file. Successful exploitation allows remote code execution in the context of the logged-on user. This vulnerability is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, indicating active exploitation in the wild. Addressed in MS09-028.
MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic
- Initial Access Execution
Elastic Detection Query
sequence by host.name with maxspan=2m
[file where file.name like~ "quartz.dll" and event.action in ("creation", "overwrite", "modification")]
[process where event.action == "start"
and process.name like~ ("cmd.exe", "powershell.exe", "wscript.exe", "cscript.exe", "mshta.exe")
and process.parent.name like~ ("wmplayer.exe", "mplayer2.exe", "iexplore.exe", "moviemk.exe")]
| head 100EQL sequence rule detecting a two-stage pattern: modification of quartz.dll followed within 2 minutes by a shell process spawned from a media player, indicating likely CVE-2009-1537 exploitation chain.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Legitimate DirectX patch installation followed by media application launch
- Antivirus remediation modifying quartz.dll and triggering post-remediation scripts
- Media player updates that replace quartz.dll and spawn installer child processes
- Automated testing frameworks simulating media playback
Other platforms for CVE-2009-1537
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 3 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 1Simulate QuickTime File Opening via Windows Media Player
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1 showing wmplayer.exe process creation with .mov file argument; DeviceProcessEvents in Defender for Endpoint capturing InitiatingProcessFileName=wmplayer.exe
- Test 2Simulate Shell Process Spawn from Media Player Context
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1 with ParentImage containing wmplayer.exe and Image=cmd.exe; command line output file created in C:\AtomicTests\
- Test 3Simulate quartz.dll File Modification Event
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 11 (FileCreate) with TargetFilename matching quartz.dll pattern; DeviceFileEvents showing FileName=quartz.dll with ActionType=FileCreated
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