Black Hat USA 2014: Breaking Windows

Microsoft's Font Scaler engine is widely used in Windows and Mac OS for rendering TrueType/OpenType fonts. To improve performance Microsoft moved it from user mode to kernel mode. Unfortunately this means Font Scaler represents a significant kernel attack surface, perhaps the easiest point which can be reached remotely (remember 2011's Duqu malware?). Understanding TOCTTOU in the Windows Kernel Font Scaler Engine will take you on a tour of the Font Scaler's many vulnerabilities, with the Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use (TOCTTOU) type being most critical.

Ever wondered about the attack surface of Windows graphics drivers? Are they similar to other drivers? Do they expose input/output controls? In the aptly titled Windows Kernel Graphics Driver Attack Surface those questions and more will be answered by low-level kernel expert Ilja van Sprundel. Whether you're a security researcher, a developer looking for some security guidance when writing drivers, or just generally curious about driver internals, there's something here for everyone.

In June 2013, Microsoft started the first of their new bug-bounty programs, focusing on finding vulnerabilities in IE11 on the upcoming Windows 8.1. Instead of fuzzing for RCEs, James Forshaw sought out logic bugs in IE11's sandbox implementation... and it wasn't nearly as tough as he expected. Digging for IE11 Sandbox Escapes will take you on a deep dive into the four unique sandbox escapes he discovered throughout June, some of which go all the way back to IE7 and Vista. Come learn how to investigate the IE11 sandbox and test the issues out yourself.

Regular registration ended on July 26, which was a couple days ago. Late registration is still available, though, so get over to Black Hat USA 2014's registration page if you want to come join the party.