CVE-2015-1305 in Data Loss Prevention
Summary
by MITRE
McAfee Data Loss Prevention Endpoint (DLPe) before 9.3.400 allows local users to write to arbitrary memory locations, and consequently gain privileges, via a crafted (1) 0x00224014 or (2) 0x0022c018 IOCTL call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1305 affects McAfee Data Loss Prevention Endpoint version 9.3.400 and earlier, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw within the kernel-mode driver component of the security solution. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the device driver's handling of specific IOCTL (Input/Output Control) requests, specifically targeting two distinct control codes 0x00224014 and 0x0022c018. The flaw exists in the kernel-level communication interface that allows user-mode applications to interact with the protected driver, creating an attack surface where malicious code can manipulate memory structures through crafted IOCTL calls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic buffer overflow or memory corruption scenario where local attackers can manipulate the driver's behavior through carefully constructed IOCTL parameters. When the driver receives these specific control codes, it fails to properly validate input data or enforce memory boundaries, allowing attackers to write to arbitrary memory locations within the kernel space. This memory corruption capability enables attackers to overwrite critical kernel data structures or function pointers, ultimately leading to privilege escalation from user-level to kernel-level execution. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions, both of which are commonly exploited in kernel-mode privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows local users to achieve privilege escalation without requiring remote network access or complex attack vectors. An attacker with local system access can leverage this vulnerability to gain kernel-level privileges, effectively bypassing all user-mode security controls and potentially compromising the entire system. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where McAfee DLPe is deployed, as it could allow attackers to bypass data loss prevention controls, access sensitive information, or establish persistent backdoors. The attack requires only local system access and does not depend on network connectivity, making it an attractive target for attackers who have already gained initial access to a system. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers privilege escalation through local exploits, and T1547, which involves establishing persistence through kernel-mode components.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2015-1305 requires immediate deployment of McAfee's official patch version 9.3.400 or later, which addresses the input validation issues in the affected kernel driver. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including restricting local user access to systems running the vulnerable software, monitoring for suspicious IOCTL activity in system logs, and conducting thorough vulnerability assessments of all endpoint protection software. The patch resolves the memory corruption issues by implementing proper input validation and bounds checking for the affected IOCTL control codes, preventing arbitrary memory writes. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protection measures such as kernel-mode exploit protection, driver signature enforcement, and monitoring for anomalous kernel activity that could indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be reinforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining unaddressed in the security stack.