Detect Microsoft DirectX NULL Byte Overwrite Vulnerability (CVE-2009-1537) in Sumo Logic CSE
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
Sumo Detection Query
_sourceCategory=windows/sysmon OR _sourceCategory=windows/security
| where EventID in ("1", "11", "4688", "4663")
| parse field=Message "Image: *\n" as image nodrop
| parse field=Message "ParentImage: *\n" as parent_image nodrop
| parse field=Message "CommandLine: *\n" as cmdline nodrop
| parse field=Message "TargetFilename: *\n" as target_file nodrop
| where (toLowerCase(target_file) contains "quartz.dll")
OR (toLowerCase(parent_image) matches "*wmplayer*" AND toLowerCase(image) matches "*(cmd|powershell|wscript|cscript)*")
OR (toLowerCase(cmdline) matches "*.(mov|qt|mqv)*" AND toLowerCase(image) matches "*(cmd|powershell)*")
| withtime _messageTime
| fields _messageTime, _sourceHost, image, parent_image, cmdline, target_file
| sort by _messageTime descSumo Logic query for CVE-2009-1537 indicators using Sysmon and Windows Security logs, detecting quartz.dll modifications, suspicious child processes from media players, and command lines referencing QuickTime file types.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Legitimate DirectX redistribution packages modifying quartz.dll
- Media encoding software referencing QuickTime formats as part of normal operation
- Group Policy or SCCM deployments updating DirectX components
- Security scanning tools enumerating media file references
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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