CVE-2008-1932 in HD Audio Codec Drivers
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in Realtek HD Audio Codec Drivers RTKVHDA.sys and RTKVHDA64.sys before 6.0.1.5605 on Windows Vista allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a crafted IOCTL request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1932 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the Realtek HD Audio Codec drivers, specifically affecting the RTKVHDA.sys and RTKVHDA64.sys kernel modules. This vulnerability exists in Realtek audio driver versions prior to 6.0.1.5605 and impacts Windows Vista systems, creating a significant security risk that can be exploited by local attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution. The flaw manifests through improper input validation within the driver's handling of IOCTL (Input/Output Control) requests, which are standard mechanisms used by operating systems to communicate with device drivers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the driver's failure to properly validate integer values during IOCTL processing, leading to an integer overflow condition that can be manipulated to overwrite critical memory locations. When a local user submits a crafted IOCTL request with maliciously constructed parameters, the driver's integer arithmetic operations can produce values that exceed the maximum representable value for the data type, causing unpredictable behavior and potential memory corruption. This overflow condition creates opportunities for attackers to overwrite adjacent memory regions, potentially allowing them to inject and execute arbitrary code within the kernel context, thereby elevating their privileges from user-level to system-level access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected system's audio subsystem and potentially broader system access. Since the vulnerability resides in kernel-mode drivers, successful exploitation can result in system compromise, data theft, or persistent backdoor installation. The local nature of the attack means that an attacker must already have user-level access to the system, but the privilege escalation to kernel level provides extensive control over system resources and operations. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how driver-level vulnerabilities can be leveraged for system compromise.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability fits within the ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, as attackers can use it to gain kernel-level access while potentially avoiding detection mechanisms that monitor user-level activities. The attack surface is limited to systems running vulnerable Realtek audio drivers, but given the widespread adoption of these drivers across Windows Vista deployments, the potential impact is significant. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability through the official Realtek driver updates, as the fix involves proper input validation and integer bounds checking within the driver's IOCTL handling routines. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing additional security measures such as driver signature enforcement and monitoring for suspicious IOCTL activity, particularly in environments where audio devices are frequently used or where system security is paramount.