CVE-2008-4589 in Resuce And Recovery
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the tvtumin.sys kernel driver in Lenovo Rescue and Recovery 4.20, including 4.20.0511 and 4.20.0512, allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a long file name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4589 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in the tvtumin.sys kernel driver component of Lenovo Rescue and Recovery software versions 4.20, specifically 4.20.0511 and 4.20.0512. This flaw exists within the kernel-mode driver responsible for handling file operations during system recovery processes, creating a dangerous attack surface that can be exploited by local adversaries. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the driver's file name processing routines, where the system fails to properly bounds-check user-supplied file name data before copying it into fixed-size heap buffers. This particular implementation flaw falls under the CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow category, which is classified as a serious memory corruption vulnerability that can lead to arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows local users to escalate their privileges and execute malicious code with kernel-level privileges. When a user provides an excessively long file name to the vulnerable driver, the buffer overflow can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical kernel data structures or even allowing attackers to overwrite function pointers and control the execution flow of the driver. The attack vector requires local system access, meaning an attacker must already have a user account on the target system, but the successful exploitation results in complete system compromise. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' and T1059 which covers 'Command and Scripting Interpreter' as the malicious code execution can occur through various command interpreters once the kernel exploit is successful.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting a specially crafted file name that exceeds the allocated buffer size in the tvtumin.sys driver, causing memory corruption that can be leveraged for code execution. The heap-based nature of the overflow indicates that the vulnerable buffer is allocated dynamically from the heap memory pool rather than on the stack, making the exploitation more complex but still achievable through careful manipulation of memory layout. Security researchers have noted that such kernel-mode buffer overflows often require sophisticated exploitation techniques due to modern memory protection mechanisms like DEP and ASLR, though the specific version of Lenovo Rescue and Recovery affected may have been vulnerable to traditional exploitation methods. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through official vendor patches and updates, while implementing additional security controls such as kernel patch management, system hardening, and monitoring for unusual file operations that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in kernel drivers and highlights the risks associated with third-party system recovery tools that may not undergo the same rigorous security testing as core operating system components.