CVE-2014-5307 in Antivirus Pro
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the PavTPK.sys kernel mode driver of Panda Security 2014 products before hft131306s24_r1 allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted argument to a 0x222008 IOCTL call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5307 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw within the PavTPK.sys kernel mode driver component of Panda Security products released prior to the hft131306s24_r1 update. This vulnerability specifically affects Panda Security 2014 products and exists in the kernel-mode driver responsible for handling certain system-level operations. The flaw manifests when processing a crafted argument through a 0x222008 IOCTL (Input/Output Control) call, which is a standard mechanism used by Windows kernel drivers to communicate with user-mode applications. The vulnerability is classified as a heap overflow because the buffer allocation occurs in the heap memory space rather than on the stack, making it particularly dangerous for privilege escalation attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the PavTPK.sys driver. When a local user crafts a specific argument and submits it through the 0x222008 IOCTL interface, the driver fails to properly bounds-check the input data before copying it into a heap-allocated buffer. This lack of proper validation allows an attacker to write beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially overwriting adjacent memory structures including critical metadata, function pointers, or other control data. The heap overflow condition creates opportunities for arbitrary code execution in kernel space, which provides attackers with elevated privileges and complete system compromise. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121: Stack-based Buffer Overflow and CWE-122: Heap-based Buffer Overflow, both of which are fundamental memory safety issues that enable privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-5307 is severe and directly relates to the principle of least privilege violation. Local attackers who can execute code on the target system gain the ability to escalate their privileges to system-level access, effectively bypassing all security controls that rely on user-mode restrictions. This vulnerability can be exploited by any local user, including those with minimal privileges, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments or systems where users have legitimate access to the system. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious input parameters that trigger the buffer overflow condition, followed by careful manipulation of the heap memory layout to achieve code execution. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, where attackers leverage system vulnerabilities to elevate their privileges. The kernel-mode execution context provides attackers with complete control over system resources, including access to all memory, file systems, and network interfaces, making this a highly valuable target for attackers seeking persistent system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5307 primarily focus on applying the vendor-provided patch that addresses the buffer overflow condition in the PavTPK.sys driver. Panda Security released the hft131306s24_r1 update specifically to resolve this vulnerability, which includes proper input validation and bounds checking for the affected IOCTL interface. System administrators should immediately deploy this patch across all affected Panda Security installations to eliminate the exploit vector. Additionally, implementing kernel-mode exploit prevention techniques such as Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Network segmentation and user access controls should be enforced to limit local user access to systems running vulnerable software. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially vulnerable kernel drivers or components within their security infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in kernel-mode drivers, as highlighted by the Common Weakness Enumeration standards, where such flaws represent one of the most dangerous categories of security vulnerabilities due to their potential for system-wide compromise.