CVE-2014-9632 in Internet Security
Summary
by MITRE
The TDI driver (avgtdix.sys) in AVG Internet Security before 2013.3495 Hot Fix 18 and 2015.x before 2015.5315 and Protection before 2015.5315 allows local users to write to arbitrary memory locations, and consequently gain privileges, via a crafted 0x830020f8 IOCTL call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9632 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the TDI driver component of AVG Internet Security software. This issue affects multiple versions of the antivirus suite, specifically those prior to the mentioned hotfixes and updates, creating a persistent security risk for systems running these vulnerable configurations. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the driver's handling of Device Control requests, particularly when processing a specific IOCTL command with the code 0x830020f8. The TDI driver, which stands for Transport Driver Interface, is responsible for network protocol handling and typically operates at kernel level, making any flaws within its implementation potentially catastrophic for system security.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully crafted IOCTL call that bypasses normal memory access controls within the driver. When the vulnerable driver receives this specific 0x830020f8 IOCTL request, it fails to properly validate input parameters before performing memory operations. This lack of validation allows an attacker to manipulate memory addresses directly through the driver interface, enabling arbitrary write operations to locations specified by the attacker. The flaw essentially creates a write-what-where primitive that can be leveraged to modify critical system memory structures, potentially allowing local attackers to elevate their privileges from standard user level to kernel level access. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, though the specific implementation here involves improper memory access control rather than traditional buffer overflows.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential system compromise and data theft capabilities. Once an attacker achieves kernel-level privileges through this vulnerability, they can bypass all standard operating system security mechanisms including User Access Control, file system protections, and process isolation. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires only local system access, meaning that even unprivileged users could exploit this flaw to gain full system control. This makes the vulnerability especially dangerous in multi-user environments or when users have legitimate access to systems. The attack could be automated and would likely go undetected by standard security monitoring tools since the malicious activity occurs at the kernel level within legitimate driver processes. The vulnerability also demonstrates the risks associated with legacy driver code and the importance of proper input validation in kernel-mode software.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9632 primarily focus on immediate software updates and system hardening measures. Organizations should prioritize installing the latest security patches from AVG, specifically the hotfixes mentioned in the vulnerability description for versions prior to 2013.3495 Hot Fix 18 and 2015.x versions before 2015.5315. Additionally, system administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious IOCTL activity, particularly around the 0x830020f8 code, which could serve as an indicator of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's nature suggests that traditional antivirus solutions may be insufficient for protection, necessitating the implementation of additional security controls such as kernel-mode code integrity checks, driver signature enforcement, and runtime application control. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and potentially to defense evasion tactics, as attackers could use the elevated privileges to hide their activities or disable security software. System hardening should include disabling unnecessary driver interfaces, implementing strict access controls for driver communication, and deploying endpoint detection and response solutions that can monitor for anomalous kernel-level behavior. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security software and the risks associated with running outdated security products that may contain unpatched kernel-mode vulnerabilities.