CVE-2006-6496 in eTrust Antivirus
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) VetMONNT.sys and (2) VetFDDNT.sys drivers in CA Anti-Virus 2007 8.1, Anti-Virus for Vista Beta 8.2, and CA Internet Security Suite 2007 v3.0 do not properly handle NULL buffers, which allows local users with administrative access to cause a denial of service (system crash) via certain IOCTLs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-6496 affects kernel-mode drivers in CA Anti-Virus software versions 8.1, 8.2, and 3.0, specifically targeting VetMONNT.sys and VetFDDNT.sys components. This issue represents a critical security flaw that demonstrates poor input validation practices within device driver code, creating a pathway for privilege escalation and system instability. The affected drivers are part of CA's comprehensive security suite designed to protect against malware and other threats, making this vulnerability particularly concerning as it could be exploited by malicious actors with administrative privileges to disrupt system operations.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper handling of NULL buffer parameters within IOCTL (Input/Output Control) operations that these drivers process. When legitimate IOCTL requests are sent to the vulnerable drivers with NULL buffer parameters, the drivers fail to validate these inputs adequately before attempting to process them. This lack of proper input validation creates a buffer overflow condition or null pointer dereference scenario that can lead to system crashes and complete system hangs. The vulnerability specifically impacts the kernel-level driver execution environment where memory management and system stability are paramount, making any exploitation potentially catastrophic for system availability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables local users with administrative access to trigger a denial of service condition that results in system crashes and complete system instability. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the system may become completely unresponsive requiring manual reboot to restore functionality. This vulnerability represents a significant risk to enterprise environments where administrative access may be compromised or where privileged accounts are not properly secured. The exploitation requires only local administrative privileges, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by insider threats or attackers who have already gained administrative access to target systems.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which describes NULL Pointer Dereference, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage, though the specific exploitation pathway involves driver-level system manipulation rather than traditional command execution. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, as the vulnerability exists in legacy software versions that are no longer supported by CA. System administrators should implement additional monitoring for unusual IOCTL activity and ensure proper access controls are maintained to limit administrative privileges. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of proper driver code review and input validation practices in security-critical system components, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing of kernel-mode software before deployment in production environments.