CVE-2014-4974 in Personal Firewall NDIS filter
Summary
by MITRE
The ESET Personal Firewall NDIS filter (EpFwNdis.sys) kernel mode driver, aka Personal Firewall module before Build 1212 (20140609), as used in multiple ESET products 5.0 through 7.0, allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel memory via crafted IOCTL calls.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4974 affects the ESET Personal Firewall NDIS filter driver component known as EpFwNdis.sys which operates within the kernel mode environment of multiple ESET security products spanning versions 5.0 through 7.0. This particular driver module serves as a network filtering mechanism that interfaces with the Windows kernel through the Network Driver Interface Specification framework, creating a critical attack surface that enables malicious actors to exploit weaknesses in the driver's input validation and memory handling procedures. The vulnerability specifically resides in the driver's implementation of IOCTL (Input/Output Control) handling functions that process user-mode requests to interact with kernel-mode components.
The technical flaw manifests through improper validation of IOCTL control codes and associated input parameters within the EpFwNdis.sys driver. When local users submit crafted IOCTL requests to the driver, the system fails to adequately sanitize or verify the input data structures before processing them, resulting in information disclosure vulnerabilities. This memory exposure occurs because the driver's implementation does not properly bounds-check or validate the parameters passed in the IOCTL requests, allowing attackers to manipulate the driver into revealing kernel memory contents through carefully constructed input sequences. The vulnerability represents a classic example of insufficient input validation and improper handling of user-supplied data within kernel-mode components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it provides attackers with access to sensitive kernel memory structures that may contain credentials, encryption keys, or other confidential data. Local users who can execute code on the system gain the ability to extract potentially valuable information from kernel memory, which could then be used for privilege escalation attacks or to aid in developing more sophisticated exploits. The vulnerability affects all ESET products within the specified version range, creating a widespread exposure across multiple security solutions that organizations rely upon for network protection. This information disclosure capability directly violates security principles outlined in the CWE-20 standard for Improper Input Validation, where inadequate validation of input parameters leads to memory corruption and information exposure.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.001 technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as well as T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation. Attackers can leverage the information disclosure to gain insights into kernel memory layout and structure, enabling them to craft more effective exploits or to bypass security mechanisms. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it operates within the kernel mode context, meaning that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise. Organizations using affected ESET products face significant risk as local attackers can potentially extract sensitive information that may include system configuration details, network connection information, or other privileged data that should remain protected from unauthorized access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected ESET products to the latest available versions that contain fixed driver implementations. System administrators should ensure that all ESET security products are updated to versions released after the 20140609 build, as these releases contain proper IOCTL parameter validation and memory handling procedures. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring for unusual IOCTL activity patterns and consider restricting local user access to potentially vulnerable system components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper kernel-mode input validation and memory management practices, aligning with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines for protecting against kernel-level exploits. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of vulnerable driver versions within the organization's infrastructure.