CVE-2008-0322 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The I2O Utility Filter driver (i2omgmt.sys) 5.1.2600.2180 for Microsoft Windows XP sets Everyone/Write permissions for the "\\.\I2OExc" device interface, which allows local users to gain privileges. NOTE: this issue can be leveraged to overwrite arbitrary memory and execute code via an IOCTL call with a crafted DeviceObject pointer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-0322 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the I2O Utility Filter driver component of Microsoft Windows XP systems. This issue specifically affects version 5.1.2600.2180 of the i2omgmt.sys driver which is responsible for managing I2O (Intelligent I/O) device interfaces. The root cause stems from improper access control configuration where the driver creates a device interface named "\.\I2OExc" with excessively permissive permissions that grant write access to the Everyone group. This configuration violates fundamental security principles by providing unnecessary write privileges to unprivileged local users who should not have the ability to modify system-level components.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the use of IOCTL (Input/Output Control) calls that allow users to interact with kernel-mode drivers directly. When a local attacker crafts a specific DeviceObject pointer and submits it through an IOCTL interface, they can leverage the overly permissive write permissions to overwrite arbitrary memory locations within the driver's address space. This memory corruption capability enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively bypassing standard user access controls and gaining complete system compromise. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring administrative credentials or elevated privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-0322 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise and potential data exfiltration. Local users who can access the system can leverage this vulnerability to install persistent backdoors, modify system files, disable security features, and establish covert communication channels. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no network connectivity or external exploitation mechanisms, making it a purely local privilege escalation vulnerability that can be triggered from within the compromised system itself. This characteristic makes the vulnerability especially dangerous in environments where users might have legitimate access but should not possess administrative privileges.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate patching and access control adjustments. Microsoft released a security update that corrects the permission settings for the I2OExc device interface, ensuring that only appropriate system components can write to it. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including privilege monitoring, access control policy enforcement, and regular security auditing of device interface permissions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses incorrect permissions for critical resources, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through kernel exploits. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other improperly configured device interfaces that might present similar security risks, as this represents a pattern of weak access control implementation in kernel-mode drivers.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation in kernel-mode components and highlights how seemingly minor permission misconfigurations can lead to complete system compromise. The attack scenario represents a classic example of how insufficient privilege separation in device drivers can be exploited to achieve elevation of privileges without requiring sophisticated exploitation techniques or network-based attack vectors.