CVE-2007-5041 in InternetSecurity 2007
Summary
by MITRE
G DATA InternetSecurity 2007 does not properly validate certain parameters to System Service Descriptor Table (SSDT) function handlers, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly gain privileges via the (1) NtCreateKey and (2) NtOpenProcess kernel SSDT hooks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5041 affects G DATA InternetSecurity 2007, a comprehensive endpoint protection solution that includes anti-virus, anti-spam, and firewall capabilities. This issue resides within the kernel-mode drivers of the security software, specifically targeting the System Service Descriptor Table (SSDT) function handlers that are critical components of the Windows operating system kernel architecture. The SSDT serves as a table that maps system service calls to their corresponding kernel functions, making it a prime target for both legitimate system operations and malicious attacks that attempt to manipulate kernel behavior.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper validation of parameters passed to two specific SSDT hooks: NtCreateKey and NtOpenProcess. These functions are fundamental Windows kernel services that handle registry key creation and process access operations respectively. The vulnerability occurs when the G DATA security software fails to properly validate input parameters before processing these system calls, creating a potential entry point for privilege escalation attacks. When local users provide malformed or unexpected parameters to these functions through the hooked SSDT entries, the system becomes vulnerable to both denial of service conditions and potential privilege escalation scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for systems running G DATA InternetSecurity 2007, as it provides local attackers with means to either crash the operating system through denial of service attacks or potentially elevate their privileges to kernel level access. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the kernel level, where any compromise can lead to complete system control. The NtCreateKey hook could be exploited to manipulate registry entries in ways that might allow privilege escalation, while NtOpenProcess could be used to gain unauthorized access to other processes running with elevated privileges. This represents a critical weakness in the security software's design that undermines its protective capabilities.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow conditions, as the improper parameter validation could lead to memory corruption scenarios. The attack surface is consistent with ATT&CK technique T1055, which covers process injection and kernel-mode exploitation, and T1068, which involves local privilege escalation through kernel vulnerabilities. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of G DATA InternetSecurity, implementing strict access controls to prevent unauthorized local access, and monitoring for suspicious system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation in kernel-mode drivers and the critical need for thorough security testing of security software itself, as these tools can become attack vectors when not properly secured against malicious manipulation.