CVE-2008-5049 in Anti-Keylogger Elite
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in AKEProtect.sys 3.3.3.0 in ISecSoft Anti-Keylogger Elite 3.3.0 and earlier, and possibly other versions including 3.3.3, allows local users to gain privileges via long inputs to the (1) 0x002224A4, (2) 0x002224C0, and (3) 0x002224CC IOCTL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5049 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the kernel-mode driver component of ISecSoft Anti-Keylogger Elite software. This issue affects version 3.3.0 and earlier, including the specific version 3.3.3 mentioned in the description, where the AKEProtect.sys driver module contains unprotected input handling mechanisms that fail to validate the length of data passed through specific IOCTL (Input/Output Control) commands. The affected IOCTL addresses 0x002224A4, 0x002224C0, and 0x002224CC demonstrate the three distinct entry points where malicious input can trigger the buffer overflow condition, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it provides multiple attack vectors within the same vulnerable driver component.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the driver's failure to properly validate input parameters before processing them within kernel memory space. When local users submit excessively long input data to any of these three IOCTL handlers, the driver attempts to copy the data into fixed-size buffers without adequate bounds checking, resulting in memory corruption that can overwrite adjacent memory locations. This type of flaw directly maps to CWE-121, which describes buffer overflow conditions in stack-based buffers, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflows. The kernel-mode nature of the vulnerability means that successful exploitation can lead to privilege escalation from user-level to kernel-level execution context, providing attackers with complete system control.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple local privilege escalation as it creates a persistent security risk within systems running vulnerable versions of the Anti-Keylogger Elite software. Attackers who can execute code locally on a target machine gain the ability to elevate their privileges and potentially access sensitive system resources, modify system files, or establish persistent backdoors. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no special privileges to exploit, as local users already have the ability to interact with the driver through the IOCTL interface. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that the vulnerable driver is loaded into kernel memory, making any exploitation attempts extremely difficult to detect and prevent through standard operating system security measures. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through kernel exploits, and demonstrates how poorly validated kernel interfaces can serve as primary attack vectors for sophisticated adversaries.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5049 should focus on immediate remediation through software updates from ISecSoft, as the vendor would have needed to implement proper input validation and bounds checking within the affected driver module. System administrators should also consider implementing kernel-mode driver protection mechanisms, such as Windows Driver Signature Enforcement and kernel-mode code integrity checking, to prevent the loading of unsigned or vulnerable drivers. Additionally, monitoring for unusual IOCTL activity related to the affected driver should be implemented through endpoint detection and response solutions. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation in kernel-mode drivers, as outlined in the CERT/CC secure coding guidelines, where buffer overflows in kernel code can result in complete system compromise. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues in other kernel-mode drivers and ensure that all system components follow secure coding practices to prevent similar buffer overflow conditions from occurring in the future.