CVE-2016-8732 in Protected Workspace
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple security flaws exists in InvProtectDrv.sys which is a part of Invincea Dell Protected Workspace 5.1.1-22303. Weak restrictions on the driver communication channel and additional insufficient checks allow any application to turn off some of the protection mechanisms provided by the Invincea product.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8732 resides within the InvProtectDrv.sys driver component of Invincea Dell Protected Workspace version 5.1.1-22303, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of endpoint protection mechanisms. This driver serves as a core element in the Invincea security architecture, responsible for enforcing various protective measures against malware and other cyber threats. The flaw manifests through inadequate restrictions on driver communication channels and insufficient validation checks that govern how applications interact with the protected workspace components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from weak access controls and insufficient input validation within the driver's communication interface. Attackers can exploit these weaknesses to manipulate the driver's behavior without proper authorization, effectively disabling critical protection mechanisms that the Invincea product is designed to provide. The vulnerability allows any application running on the system to potentially bypass security controls, undermining the fundamental purpose of the endpoint protection solution. This flaw directly relates to CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems, and represents a classic case of insufficient privilege checking in kernel-mode drivers.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-8732 extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of systems running the affected Invincea software. Once exploited, the vulnerability enables adversaries to disable real-time protection features, bypass malware detection mechanisms, and potentially gain elevated privileges within the protected environment. This creates a dangerous scenario where the very security product designed to protect the system becomes a vector for disabling its own protective capabilities. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete compromise of the endpoint, as it allows attackers to remove the security controls that would otherwise detect and prevent malicious activities, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1562.001 for "Disable or Modify Tools" and T1059.001 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter".
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from system administrators, including prompt patching of the Invincea Dell Protected Workspace software to the latest available version that addresses these driver communication flaws. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring for unauthorized driver interactions and establish strict application whitelisting policies to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper driver security implementation and access control mechanisms in endpoint protection solutions. System administrators must also consider temporary removal of the vulnerable driver components until proper patches are deployed, and implement comprehensive security audits to verify that no malicious actors have already exploited this weakness within their environments. This vulnerability demonstrates the necessity of robust kernel-mode security controls and proper privilege separation to prevent attackers from manipulating critical security infrastructure.