CVE-2007-3777 in AVG Anti-Virus
Summary
by MITRE
avg7core.sys 7.5.0.444 in Grisoft AVG Anti-Virus 7.5.448 and Free Edition 7.5.446, provides an internal function that copies data to an arbitrary address, which allows local users to gain privileges via arbitrary address arguments to a function provided by the 0x5348E004 IOCTL for the generic DeviceIoControl handler.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3777 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the AVG Anti-Virus 7.5.448 and Free Edition 7.5.446 software suite. This issue resides in the avg7core.sys kernel driver component which serves as the core system protection module for the antivirus solution. The vulnerability specifically affects the device driver's handling of the 0x5348E004 IOCTL command, which is part of the generic DeviceIoControl handler interface used for communication between user-space applications and kernel-mode drivers. The flaw manifests as an unsafe memory copy operation that lacks proper bounds checking or validation of destination addresses, creating a potential for arbitrary code execution and privilege escalation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a design flaw in the driver's internal function that processes IOCTL requests. When a local user submits crafted data to the 0x5348E004 IOCTL command, the driver performs a memory copy operation to an address specified by the user-supplied arguments rather than validating or restricting the destination address. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of Stack-based Buffer Overflow, though it specifically manifests as an arbitrary memory write condition that can be exploited to overwrite critical system memory locations. The lack of proper input validation and address restriction in the kernel driver creates a direct path for privilege escalation attacks, as the driver operates with elevated privileges typically reserved for system-level processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and affects local users who can leverage it to gain system-level privileges without requiring authentication. Once exploited, attackers can execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or persistent backdoor installation. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient privilege separation between user-mode applications and kernel-mode drivers, where the driver fails to properly validate user input before performing memory operations. This type of flaw is particularly dangerous in endpoint protection software because antivirus drivers often run with high privileges to perform system-level operations, making them attractive targets for exploitation. The vulnerability can be exploited through standard local user access, requiring no network connectivity or special attack vectors, which significantly increases the attack surface and exploitability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected AVG software versions, as the vendor has released updates to address this specific issue. System administrators should prioritize deployment of the latest security patches and updates from Grisoft to prevent exploitation. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and address restriction mechanisms within kernel drivers is essential for preventing similar vulnerabilities. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that drivers operate with minimal required privileges and perform comprehensive validation of all user-supplied data. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect unusual kernel-level activity or unauthorized privilege escalation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and can be used to establish persistence within the system, making it a critical concern for enterprise security teams. Organizations should also consider implementing kernel-mode driver integrity checking and runtime application control to prevent exploitation of such vulnerabilities in environments where patching may be delayed.