CVE-2016-5647 in Graphics Driver
Summary
by MITRE
The igdkmd64 module in the Intel Graphics Driver through 15.33.42.435, 15.36.x through 15.36.30.4385, and 15.40.x through 15.40.4404 on Windows allows local users to cause a denial of service (crash) or gain privileges via a crafted D3DKMTEscape request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2019
The CVE-2016-5647 vulnerability resides within the Intel Graphics Driver's igdkmd64 kernel module, representing a critical security flaw that affects multiple driver versions on Windows operating systems. This vulnerability specifically targets the graphics driver's handling of Direct3D Kernel Mode Driver Interface (D3DKMTEscape) requests, which are essential for communication between user-mode applications and kernel-mode graphics drivers. The affected versions span across Intel Graphics Driver releases through 15.33.42.435, 15.36.x versions up to 15.36.30.4385, and 15.40.x versions up to 15.40.4404, indicating a widespread issue that impacted numerous systems running Intel graphics hardware.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the D3DKMTEscape function implementation. When a malicious user submits a crafted D3DKMTEscape request, the kernel module fails to properly validate the parameters and structure of the incoming data. This lack of proper validation leads to memory corruption issues that can result in either system crashes or privilege escalation opportunities. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, meaning that successful exploitation can potentially allow local attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, effectively bypassing standard user-mode security boundaries. The flaw represents a classic buffer overflow or improper input validation issue that has been classified under CWE-121, which deals with stack-based buffer overflow conditions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to enterprise environments and individual users alike. Local attackers who can execute code on a target system can leverage this flaw to either crash the graphics subsystem, causing denial of service conditions that disrupt normal operations, or to escalate their privileges to system-level access. The privilege escalation aspect is particularly concerning as it allows attackers to gain administrative control over the affected system, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple crashes since it can be exploited to establish persistent access to compromised systems, making it a valuable target for attackers seeking long-term system control.
The exploitation of CVE-2016-5647 aligns with several ATT&CK tactics including privilege escalation and denial of service. Specifically, the technique maps to T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', and T1499, covering 'Endpoint Denial of Service'. Organizations should consider implementing multiple layers of defense including regular driver updates, monitoring for unusual D3DKMTEscape activity, and maintaining robust patch management processes. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of kernel-level security testing and highlights the risks associated with complex graphics driver implementations that must handle numerous user-mode requests while maintaining system stability and security boundaries. System administrators should prioritize patching affected Intel graphics drivers and consider implementing additional security controls to monitor for suspicious kernel-mode activity that might indicate exploitation attempts.