CVE-2011-5032 in WinMount
Summary
by MITRE
WMDrive.sys 3.4.181.224 in WinMount 3.5.1018 allows local users to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and system crash) via a crafted 0x87342000 IOCTL request to the WMDriver device.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/13/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-5032 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the WinMount software suite, specifically affecting version 3.5.1018 and its associated WMDrive.sys driver component. This issue manifests through a NULL pointer dereference condition that occurs when the vulnerable driver processes a specially crafted IOCTL (Input/Output Control) request with the code 0x87342000. The vulnerability resides at the kernel level within the device driver architecture, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by local attackers who have access to the system. The affected WMDrive.sys driver version 3.4.181.224 demonstrates a fundamental lack of proper input validation and error handling mechanisms, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged to crash the entire operating system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-established pattern that aligns with CWE-476, which describes NULL pointer dereference conditions in software systems. When a local user sends the specific IOCTL request with code 0x87342000 to the WMDriver device, the driver fails to properly validate the input parameters before attempting to dereference a pointer that remains uninitialized or set to NULL. This fundamental flaw in the driver's code structure creates a situation where the system's execution flow encounters an invalid memory access, resulting in an immediate system crash or reboot. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level within the Windows driver model, where such errors typically result in blue screen of death (BSOD) conditions and complete system unavailability.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to system availability and stability within environments that utilize WinMount software. Local users with minimal privileges can leverage this flaw to disrupt system operations, potentially causing service interruptions, data loss, and productivity degradation. The vulnerability's local nature means that exploitation requires only user-level access, making it particularly concerning for environments where privilege escalation is not required for system compromise. The denial of service impact extends beyond simple system crashes, as the affected systems may require manual intervention to recover from the crash state, potentially leading to extended downtime and operational disruption.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to privilege escalation and defense evasion. While the immediate impact is a denial of service, attackers may use this initial foothold to establish persistence or escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability also demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059, which involves the use of system services and drivers for malicious purposes. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as driver signature enforcement, system hardening measures, and monitoring for unusual IOCTL activity patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and error handling within kernel-mode drivers, as well as the necessity for regular security assessments of third-party software components that interact with the operating system at privileged levels. System administrators should prioritize patching or mitigating this vulnerability through official vendor updates, as the risk of exploitation increases with the prevalence of local user access within compromised environments.