Detect Microsoft DirectX NULL Byte Overwrite Vulnerability (CVE-2009-1537) in CrowdStrike LogScale
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
LogScale Detection Query
#event_simpleName=ProcessRollup2
| filter (ImageFileName matches "(?i)(wmplayer|mplayer2|iexplore|moviemk)\.exe" AND CommandLine matches "(?i)\.(mov|qt|mqv)")
OR (ParentBaseFileName matches "(?i)(wmplayer|mplayer2)\.exe" AND ImageFileName matches "(?i)(cmd|powershell|wscript|cscript|mshta)\.exe")
| eval risk="CVE-2009-1537 DirectX QuickTime exploitation indicator"
| table timestamp, ComputerName, UserName, ParentBaseFileName, ImageFileName, CommandLine, risk
| sort timestamp desc
| limit 200CrowdStrike Falcon NG-SIEM query detecting process chains consistent with CVE-2009-1537 exploitation: media players processing QuickTime files and spawning shell interpreters.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Legitimate software update processes launched from media application context
- Enterprise deployment tools that use media player executables as launchers
- Software compatibility layers processing legacy QuickTime media
- Automated media transcoding pipelines invoking shell commands
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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