CVE-2015-8772 in File Lock Driver
Summary
by MITRE
McPvDrv.sys 4.6.111.0 in McAfee File Lock 5.x in McAfee Total Protection allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel memory or cause a denial of service (system crash) via a large VERIFY_INFORMATION.Length value in an IOCTL_DISK_VERIFY ioctl call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8772 resides within the McPvDrv.sys driver component of McAfee File Lock 5.x versions, specifically affecting McAfee Total Protection installations. This kernel-mode driver operates with elevated privileges and handles various system-level operations through Windows Device I/O Control (IOCTL) interfaces. The vulnerability manifests when processing IOCTL_DISK_VERIFY requests, which are typically used to verify disk integrity and perform low-level storage operations. The driver fails to properly validate input parameters, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited by local attackers with minimal privileges.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking within the driver's handling of VERIFY_INFORMATION structures. When a local user submits an IOCTL_DISK_VERIFY request with an excessively large VERIFY_INFORMATION.Length value, the driver processes this parameter without proper validation, leading to potential buffer overflows or memory corruption scenarios. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-129, which addresses insufficient validation of length fields, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. The lack of proper input sanitization allows attackers to manipulate the driver's memory management routines, potentially causing unpredictable behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass potential information disclosure risks. Local attackers can leverage this flaw to read kernel memory contents, potentially exposing sensitive system data, credentials, or cryptographic keys stored in memory. The system crash resulting from malformed input parameters can also be exploited for persistent denial of service attacks, disrupting normal system operations and potentially affecting critical business processes that depend on McAfee Total Protection services. This vulnerability particularly affects systems where McAfee File Lock is actively running, as the driver maintains continuous kernel-level access and processing capabilities.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected McAfee Total Protection versions, as the vendor likely released security updates addressing this specific buffer overflow condition. System administrators should implement privilege separation measures and monitor for unusual IOCTL activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in kernel-mode drivers, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through kernel exploits. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime application control measures and memory protection mechanisms to limit the impact of such vulnerabilities, while maintaining regular security assessments of endpoint protection software to identify similar weaknesses in other security components.