CVE-2008-1625 in Antivirus Professional
Summary
by MITRE
aavmker4.sys in avast! Home and Professional 4.7 for Windows does not properly validate input to IOCTL 0xb2d60030, which allows local users to gain privileges via certain IOCTL requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/16/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1625 resides within the aavmker4.sys kernel driver component of avast! Home and Professional version 4.7 for Windows operating systems. This driver serves as a core component in the antivirus software's functionality, particularly handling system-level operations through Windows kernel interfaces. The flaw manifests in the driver's inadequate input validation mechanisms when processing specific IOCTL (Input/Output Control) requests, creating a potential privilege escalation vector that could be exploited by local attackers.
The technical exploitation occurs through IOCTL code 0xb2d60030, which represents a specific Windows DeviceIoControl function call that allows communication between user-mode applications and kernel-mode drivers. The vulnerability stems from the driver's failure to properly validate or sanitize input parameters before processing them, creating a condition where malformed or malicious input could cause the driver to execute unintended code paths. This improper validation allows an attacker with local system access to craft specially crafted IOCTL requests that manipulate the driver's behavior and potentially elevate their privileges from standard user level to kernel-level access.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant security risk as it transforms a local privilege escalation vulnerability into a potential system compromise vector. Attackers who already have local access to a system running the affected avast! version can exploit this flaw to gain elevated privileges, potentially allowing them to bypass system security controls, install malicious software, modify system files, or access sensitive data. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation since kernel-level access provides complete control over the affected system, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where local access might be obtained through social engineering or other attack vectors.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes a condition where a buffer is accessed beyond its boundaries, and relates to the broader category of privilege escalation flaws in kernel-mode drivers. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques, specifically T1068 (Local Privilege Escalation) and potentially T1543 (Create or Modify System Process) as attackers might leverage this to modify system processes or establish persistence. The exploitation requires local system access, making it a post-compromise technique that attackers might use after initial access has been achieved through other means such as phishing or unpatched applications.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate remediation through software updates, as avast! released patches addressing this specific vulnerability in subsequent versions of their software. System administrators should ensure that all endpoint protection software is kept up to date and that regular security assessments include verification of driver integrity and proper input validation mechanisms. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege controls and monitoring for unusual IOCTL activity could help detect exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and kernel-mode driver integrity checks as additional defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities in third-party security software components.