CVE-2007-2965 in Internet Security
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Real-time Scanning component in multiple F-Secure products, including Internet Security 2005, 2006 and 2007; Anti-Virus 2005, 2006 and 2007; and Solutions based on F-Secure Protection Service for Consumers 6.40 and earlier allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted I/O request packet (IRP), related to IOCTL (Input/Output Control) and "access validation of the address space."
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-2965 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Real-time Scanning component of multiple F-Secure security products spanning several versions from 2005 through 2007. This issue affects a broad range of security solutions including Internet Security, Anti-Virus products, and consumer-focused protection services, making it particularly concerning from a widespread impact perspective. The vulnerability specifically manifests within the kernel-mode drivers that handle real-time scanning operations, where improper input validation leads to potential privilege escalation opportunities for local attackers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves a crafted I/O request packet (IRP) that exploits weaknesses in the IOCTL (Input/Output Control) handling mechanism within the affected F-Secure products. The flaw occurs during the access validation of address space operations, where the system fails to properly validate memory access permissions when processing specific IRP requests. This allows local users to manipulate kernel-mode operations through carefully constructed IOCTL calls that bypass normal access controls and privilege boundaries. The vulnerability is classified as a kernel-mode privilege escalation issue that leverages improper access validation techniques.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for systems running affected F-Secure products since local users can exploit it to elevate their privileges from standard user level to system level access. The implications extend beyond simple privilege escalation as the vulnerability affects multiple product lines and versions, suggesting a fundamental flaw in the kernel driver implementation that could be exploited in various attack scenarios. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to install malicious software, modify system files, or establish persistent backdoors within the compromised systems.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-264, which describes permissions, privileges, and access control issues, specifically focusing on improper access validation of address space. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques, particularly those involving kernel-mode exploitation and driver-based attacks. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that this affects multiple versions of F-Secure products, indicating a systemic issue rather than a single instance of flawed code. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic example of how security controls can be bypassed when proper address space validation is not implemented in kernel drivers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected F-Secure products to the latest available versions that contain fixes for the kernel driver access validation issues. Organizations should also implement monitoring for suspicious IRP activity and IOCTL calls within their systems, particularly in environments where F-Secure products are deployed. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while regular security assessments should verify that no other kernel-mode drivers within the system present similar access validation weaknesses. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper input validation in kernel-mode drivers and the need for comprehensive security testing of system-level components.