CVE-2016-9038 in Invincea-X
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable double fetch vulnerability exists in the SboxDrv.sys driver functionality of Invincea-X 6.1.3-24058. A specially crafted input buffer and race condition can result in kernel memory corruption, which could result in privilege escalation. An attacker needs to execute a special application locally to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2023
The CVE-2016-9038 vulnerability represents a critical double fetch flaw within the SboxDrv.sys kernel driver component of Invincea-X version 6.1.3-24058. This type of vulnerability occurs when a driver reads data from memory, performs validation or processing, but then reads the same data again before the initial validation has been properly enforced, creating a window where malicious input can be manipulated between the two fetch operations. The vulnerability specifically resides in the kernel-mode driver functionality that handles input buffer processing, making it particularly dangerous as it operates at the most privileged level of the operating system. The double fetch condition creates a race scenario where an attacker can manipulate the data between the first and second memory accesses, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation within the kernel space.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a race condition that manifests when the SboxDrv.sys driver processes user-supplied input buffers through its kernel routines. During the processing, the driver performs initial validation on a buffer that is subsequently accessed again in a different context, allowing for potential manipulation of the data between these two fetch operations. The vulnerability can be exploited through a specially crafted input buffer that takes advantage of the timing window between the first and second data fetches. This race condition scenario is classified under CWE-362, which specifically addresses race conditions in concurrent programming, and represents a classic example of how improper synchronization can lead to security flaws. The kernel memory corruption that results from this vulnerability can potentially be leveraged to escalate privileges from user-level to kernel-level execution, providing attackers with complete system compromise capabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-9038 is severe and directly affects system integrity and confidentiality. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can achieve privilege escalation, gaining kernel-level access that allows them to bypass standard operating system security mechanisms, modify system files, install persistent backdoors, and access all system resources including user credentials and sensitive data. The requirement for local execution means that attackers must already have user-level access to the system, but once exploited, the vulnerability provides a pathway to full system compromise. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where local access is possible through social engineering, phishing attacks, or compromised user accounts. The attack vector through a specially crafted application demonstrates how seemingly legitimate software can be weaponized to exploit kernel-level flaws, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.003 for executing malicious code through kernel drivers.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-9038 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary solution involves updating to a patched version of Invincea-X that addresses the double fetch race condition in the SboxDrv.sys driver, which would typically include proper synchronization mechanisms to prevent the race condition. System administrators should implement strict access controls and monitoring to detect unusual kernel-level activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper kernel driver security practices including input validation, memory management, and race condition prevention. Organizations should also consider implementing kernel-mode exploit protection mechanisms such as Control Flow Guard, kernel address space layout randomization, and driver signature enforcement to reduce the attack surface. Additionally, regular security assessments of kernel drivers and input validation routines should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other system components. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices in kernel-mode drivers and the potential catastrophic consequences when race conditions are not properly addressed in security-sensitive code.