CVE-2014-3752 in TotalProtection
Summary
by MITRE
The MiniIcpt.sys driver in G Data TotalProtection 2014 24.0.2.1 and earlier allows local users with administrator rights to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges via a crafted 0x83170180 call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3752 resides within the MiniIcpt.sys kernel driver component of G Data TotalProtection 2014 version 24.0.2.1 and earlier installations. This represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that enables local attackers with administrator-level access to elevate their privileges to SYSTEM level, thereby gaining complete control over the affected system. The vulnerability manifests through an improperly validated 0x83170180 ioctl call that the driver processes, creating an exploitable code path that bypasses standard security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the kernel-mode driver interface. When the MiniIcpt.sys driver receives the specific ioctl command with the identifier 0x83170180, it fails to properly validate the parameters supplied by the calling process. This lack of proper parameter sanitization allows an attacker to craft malicious input that triggers unintended behavior within the driver's memory management routines. The flaw operates at the kernel level where the driver executes with the highest privilege level, making any exploitation directly translate into SYSTEM-level code execution. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes buffer overflow conditions in kernel-mode drivers, and represents a classic example of improper input validation leading to privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities. Once elevated to SYSTEM privileges, an attacker can bypass all standard user-mode security controls, modify system files, install malicious software, and access all data on the system regardless of user permissions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only local administrator access to exploit, meaning that an attacker who has already gained administrative privileges on a target system can use this flaw to achieve full system control. This makes the vulnerability especially dangerous in environments where administrative accounts are compromised or where attackers can obtain legitimate administrative access through social engineering or other means.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly under the privilege escalation tactic where adversaries seek to gain higher-level permissions. The vulnerability represents a path to SYSTEM-level access that aligns with techniques such as "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and "Kernel Modules and Extensions." Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to the latest version of G Data TotalProtection, which addresses this specific flaw through proper input validation and parameter checking. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as driver signature enforcement, application whitelisting, and monitoring for unusual ioctl calls to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of kernel-mode driver security and proper input validation practices that are fundamental to maintaining system integrity and preventing privilege escalation attacks.