CVE-2014-9643 in Total Security
Summary
by MITRE
K7Sentry.sys in K7 Computing Ultimate Security, Anti-Virus Plus, and Total Security before 14.2.0.253 allows local users to write to arbitrary memory locations, and consequently gain privileges, via a crafted 0x95002570, 0x95002574, 0x95002580, 0x950025a8, 0x950025ac, or 0x950025c8 IOCTL call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9643 affects K7Sentry.sys device driver component within K7 Computing's security suite, specifically impacting Ultimate Security, Anti-Virus Plus, and Total Security versions prior to 14.2.0.253. This represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that enables local attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the driver's handling of specific IOCTL (Input/Output Control) commands, creating a pathway for malicious memory manipulation. The affected IOCTL codes 0x95002570, 0x95002574, 0x95002580, 0x950025a8, 0x950025ac, and 0x950025c8 all exhibit the same vulnerability pattern, indicating a systemic flaw in the driver's control flow management. This issue falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and more specifically relates to CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities. The flaw operates at the kernel level, where the driver processes these IOCTL calls without adequate bounds checking, allowing attackers to specify memory addresses that should remain protected. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant attack surface for local privilege escalation, as any user with access to the system can potentially exploit this weakness to gain SYSTEM level privileges. The attack vector requires local system access but does not need network connectivity, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users have varying privilege levels. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1068, which covers 'Local Privilege Escalation', and T1547, covering 'Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder', as attackers could leverage the elevated privileges to establish persistence. The exploitation process involves crafting malicious IOCTL requests that manipulate kernel memory structures, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution and complete system compromise. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond immediate privilege escalation, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to install rootkits, modify system binaries, or disable security features. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability immediately, as it represents a persistent threat that can be exploited by malicious actors with local access. The fix implemented by K7 Computing in version 14.2.0.253 involved strengthening input validation and implementing proper bounds checking for all IOCTL commands, ensuring that memory access operations are properly sanitized before execution. System administrators should conduct immediate vulnerability assessments to identify affected systems and ensure all instances of the K7 Computing security suite are updated to the patched versions. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper driver security practices and the potential consequences of inadequate input validation in kernel-mode components. This flaw highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of device drivers, particularly those with extensive system-level access privileges. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing proper access controls to limit local user privileges, thereby reducing the potential impact of such kernel-level exploits.