CVE-2004-1193 in prevx home
Summary
by MITRE
prevx home 1.0 allows local users with administrator privileges to bypass the intrusion prevention features by directly writing to \device\physicalmemory which restores the running kernel s original sdt servicetable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2017
This vulnerability exists in prevx home version 1.0, a network security solution designed to protect against intrusions and malicious activities. The flaw represents a critical security bypass that allows local users with administrator privileges to circumvent the system's intrusion prevention mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from the software's insufficient protection measures when dealing with direct kernel memory manipulation, specifically targeting the physical memory device access. Attackers with administrative access can exploit this weakness by directly writing to the \device\physicalmemory device path, which provides low-level access to the kernel's memory space.
The technical exploitation involves leveraging administrative privileges to gain direct access to the system's physical memory through the Windows device path interface. When an attacker writes to \device\physicalmemory, they can manipulate the kernel's service table, which is a critical data structure that maps system calls to their corresponding kernel functions. This manipulation effectively restores the original state of the kernel's service table, thereby disabling the intrusion prevention features that were previously active. The vulnerability essentially allows for a complete bypass of the security controls by directly modifying kernel-level data structures that govern system behavior and security enforcement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it completely undermines the security posture of systems running prevx home 1.0. An attacker with administrative privileges can essentially render the intrusion prevention system ineffective, allowing them to conduct malicious activities without detection. This bypass affects the integrity of the security monitoring capabilities and can lead to persistent threats that evade detection by the system's own security mechanisms. The vulnerability also demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the software's design where it fails to properly protect against direct kernel memory manipulation by privileged users. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where administrative accounts are common and the attack surface is extensive.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and specifically relates to improper privilege management in kernel-level components. The flaw also connects to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation, and T1566, which involves initial access through exploitation of vulnerabilities. The attack vector requires local administrator access, making it a privilege escalation vulnerability that can be leveraged to gain deeper system control. Organizations should implement strict access control policies, regularly update security software, and monitor for unauthorized access to kernel-level resources. Additionally, system administrators should be educated about the risks associated with administrative privileges and the potential for bypassing security controls through direct memory manipulation. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper kernel security boundaries and the need for robust protection against direct memory access by privileged users.