CVE-2016-4306 in Kaspersky
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple information leaks exist in various IOCTL handlers of the Kaspersky Internet Security KLDISK driver. Specially crafted IOCTL requests can cause the driver to return out-of-bounds kernel memory, potentially leaking sensitive information such as privileged tokens or kernel memory addresses that may be useful in bypassing kernel mitigations. An unprivileged user can run a program from user-mode to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4306 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Kaspersky Internet Security KLDISK driver component. This issue manifests through multiple IOCTL handlers that fail to properly validate input parameters, creating opportunities for unauthorized memory access. The KLDISK driver operates at kernel level within the Windows operating system, making it a prime target for exploitation due to its elevated privileges and direct hardware access capabilities. The vulnerability specifically affects the Kaspersky Internet Security suite, which is widely deployed across enterprise and consumer environments, amplifying the potential impact of this flaw.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the IOCTL handler functions of the KLDISK driver. When an unprivileged user executes a specially crafted program from user mode, the program can submit malformed IOCTL requests that cause the driver to return memory contents beyond the intended boundaries. This occurs because the driver does not properly bounds-check the data structures passed in the IOCTL requests, allowing attackers to manipulate the driver's behavior to disclose kernel memory. The leaked information can include sensitive data such as privileged tokens, kernel memory addresses, and other confidential information that could be leveraged in subsequent exploitation attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential pathways for privilege escalation and advanced exploitation techniques. The leaked kernel memory addresses can be used to bypass modern kernel mitigations such as address space layout randomization and kernel address space layout randomization, which rely on unpredictable memory layouts for their effectiveness. Additionally, the disclosure of privileged tokens or other sensitive kernel data can enable attackers to gain elevated privileges without requiring additional exploitation primitives. This vulnerability essentially provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that can be used to craft more sophisticated attacks against the target system.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in kernel-mode drivers, as even minor oversights in parameter checking can lead to severe security consequences. The fact that an unprivileged user can trigger this vulnerability from user mode represents a significant design flaw in the driver's security model, as it violates the principle of least privilege and creates unnecessary attack surface for malicious actors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected Kaspersky Internet Security versions, as well as implementing additional operational security measures. Organizations should consider disabling the KLDISK driver if its functionality is not required for security operations, or alternatively, implementing runtime monitoring to detect suspicious IOCTL activity. The vulnerability highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of kernel-mode components, particularly those handling user input through IOCTL interfaces. Regular security assessments and code reviews should specifically target driver components to identify similar input validation issues that could lead to information disclosure or privilege escalation vulnerabilities.