CVE-2009-4114 in Kaspersky
Summary
by MITRE
kl1.sys in Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2010 9.0.0.463, and possibly other versions before 9.0.0.736, does not properly validate input to IOCTL 0x0022c008, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (system crash) via IOCTL requests using crafted kernel addresses that trigger memory corruption, possibly related to klavemu.kdl.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4114 resides within the kernel-mode driver kl1.sys component of Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2010 version 9.0.0.463 and potentially other earlier versions up to 9.0.0.736. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that affects the kernel-level protection mechanisms of the antivirus software. The vulnerability specifically manifests through improper input validation within the IOCTL (Input/Output Control) handling mechanism, particularly for IOCTL command 0x0022c008. The affected driver operates at the highest privilege level within the Windows kernel, making any vulnerability in its implementation potentially catastrophic for system stability and security.
The technical flaw stems from the driver's failure to properly validate input parameters when processing IOCTL requests. When a local user submits a crafted IOCTL request with specific kernel addresses, the kl1.sys driver does not adequately validate these inputs before processing them. This lack of validation leads to memory corruption conditions that ultimately result in system crashes or blue screen of death (BSOD) scenarios. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the kernel space where the driver maintains elevated privileges and direct access to system memory. The corruption occurs during the handling of the klavemu.kdl component, which suggests the flaw may be related to emulated kernel operations or memory management functions within the driver's execution context. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow scenarios, though the specific implementation appears to involve memory corruption through improper pointer handling rather than traditional buffer overflows.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. Local users who can execute code with sufficient privileges can leverage this flaw to crash the system at will, effectively creating a persistent denial of service condition that could be exploited in various attack scenarios. The fact that this affects a core antivirus driver component means that system administrators and security professionals may be forced to disable or update the antivirus software to prevent exploitation, potentially leaving systems vulnerable during the update process. Additionally, the vulnerability's location within kernel-mode code makes it particularly attractive to attackers seeking to escalate privileges or gain deeper system access, as kernel-level exploits often provide the foundation for more advanced compromise techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4114 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Kaspersky Anti-Virus installations to version 9.0.0.736 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. System administrators should implement strict access controls to prevent unauthorized local users from submitting IOCTL requests to the affected driver. The principle of least privilege should be enforced, limiting which users can interact with kernel-level drivers. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious IOCTL activity and implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify potential exploitation attempts should be considered. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving privilege escalation and defense evasion, as attackers could use the denial of service capability to disrupt security operations or create cover for other malicious activities. Organizations should also consider implementing kernel-mode protection mechanisms and regularly auditing kernel driver installations to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other security software components.