CVE-2011-0513 in DriveCrypt
Summary
by MITRE
DCR.sys driver in SecurStar DriveCrypt 5.4, 5.3, and earlier allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a crafted argument to the 0x00073800 IOCTL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0513 resides within the DCR.sys kernel driver component of SecurStar DriveCrypt versions 5.4 and earlier, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that enables local attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated system privileges. This issue manifests through improper input validation within the driver's handling of the 0x00073800 IOCTL (Input/Output Control) command, which is typically used for device-specific operations in Windows kernel-mode drivers. The vulnerability stems from the driver's failure to adequately validate or sanitize user-supplied arguments before processing them, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors with local access to the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic buffer overflow or improper parameter validation scenario where the DCR.sys driver accepts a crafted argument through the IOCTL interface without sufficient bounds checking or input sanitization. When a local user submits malicious data through the 0x00073800 IOCTL command, the driver processes this input without proper validation mechanisms, allowing the attacker to potentially overwrite kernel memory or manipulate driver execution flow. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of 'Stack-based Buffer Overflow' or more broadly CWE-787 'Out-of-bounds Write' as defined by the CWE standard, where insufficient bounds checking enables attackers to write data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems running affected versions of SecurStar DriveCrypt, as it allows local users to escalate their privileges from standard user level to kernel-level execution. The attack requires only local system access, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may have legitimate access to systems but should not possess administrative privileges. The successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, data theft, persistence mechanisms installation, and potential lateral movement within network environments. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' and potentially T1059 'Command and Scripting Interpreter' when combined with subsequent execution capabilities.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate privilege escalation, as it can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks within the target environment. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can potentially install rootkits, modify system files, disable security features, or establish persistent backdoors. The kernel-level access gained through this vulnerability makes it particularly dangerous because it operates at the core of system security mechanisms, bypassing many standard user-mode protections and detection methods. Organizations running affected software versions face substantial risk of data breaches and system compromise, particularly in environments where local access controls are not properly enforced or where users have unnecessary access to systems with this vulnerable driver installed. Mitigation efforts should focus on immediate patching of the SecurStar DriveCrypt software to versions that address the IOCTL parameter validation issue, along with implementing proper access controls and monitoring for suspicious kernel-mode activity that could indicate exploitation attempts.