CVE-2010-5169 in Online Armor
Summary
by MITRE
** DISPUTED ** Race condition in Online Armor Premium 4.0.0.35 on Windows XP allows local users to bypass kernel-mode hook handlers, and execute dangerous code that would otherwise be blocked by a handler but not blocked by signature-based malware detection, via certain user-space memory changes during hook-handler execution, aka an argument-switch attack or a KHOBE attack. NOTE: this issue is disputed by some third parties because it is a flaw in a protection mechanism for situations where a crafted program has already begun to execute.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-5169 represents a significant race condition within the kernel-mode hook handler mechanism of Online Armor Premium version 4.0.0.35 running on Windows XP systems. This flaw operates at the intersection of kernel-mode security controls and user-mode memory manipulation, creating a pathway for privilege escalation and bypass of security protections that are designed to prevent malicious code execution. The vulnerability specifically targets the timing window between when kernel-mode hook handlers are invoked and when user-space memory changes occur, allowing malicious actors to exploit this temporal gap for unauthorized code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a classic race condition scenario where the security system's hook handlers are not properly synchronized with user-space memory operations. During the execution of kernel-mode hook handlers, an attacker can manipulate user-space memory in such a way that the hook handler's behavior changes mid-execution, effectively causing the handler to process different arguments than originally intended. This argument-switch attack pattern, also known as KHOBE (Kernel Hook Obfuscation Exploitation), allows malicious code to be executed in a context where it would normally be blocked by the security system's hook handlers but remains undetected by signature-based malware detection mechanisms. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass traditional endpoint protection measures that rely on user-mode detection methods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete bypass of kernel-mode security controls that are fundamental to the protection mechanism of Online Armor Premium. This flaw enables local users to execute arbitrary code that would otherwise be blocked by the security system's hook handlers, effectively rendering the protection mechanism ineffective against sophisticated attacks. The attack vector specifically targets the timing and synchronization between kernel and user-mode operations, creating a window where the security system's defenses can be circumvented without triggering signature-based detection systems. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where such protection mechanisms are relied upon to prevent malware execution and maintain system integrity.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability must address the underlying race condition by implementing proper synchronization mechanisms between kernel-mode hook handlers and user-space memory operations. The most effective approaches include implementing atomic operations during hook handler execution, adding memory validation checks before and after hook handler invocation, and ensuring that kernel-mode code does not rely on user-space memory values that could be modified during execution. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging of kernel-mode activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-362, which describes race conditions in security-critical code, and represents a specific implementation of the KHOBE attack pattern that has been documented in various security research publications. The issue also relates to ATT&CK technique T1055, which covers process injection and code injection methods that can be used to bypass security controls through manipulation of execution contexts. Given the nature of the vulnerability, it is crucial that organizations implement comprehensive patch management strategies and consider alternative security solutions that do not rely on vulnerable kernel-mode hooking mechanisms.