CVE-2017-10950 in Total Security
Summary
by MITRE
This vulnerability allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Bitdefender Total Security 21.0.24.62. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within processing of the 0x8000E038 IOCTL in the bdfwfpf driver. The issue results from the lack of validating the existence of an object prior to performing operations on the object. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-4776.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2019
This vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw in Bitdefender Total Security 21.0.24.62 that demonstrates a classic null pointer dereference vulnerability in kernel-mode drivers. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the bdfwfpf driver's handling of the 0x8000E038 IOCTL command, which is part of the Windows Driver Framework interface. The flaw operates under CWE-476 which specifically addresses null pointer dereference conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution. Attackers must first establish a foothold with low-privileged user access, typically through social engineering, phishing, or exploiting other vulnerabilities, before leveraging this kernel-level weakness to escalate privileges to SYSTEM level access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the driver's failure to validate whether an object reference exists before attempting operations on it, creating a window where malicious input can cause the driver to access invalid memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and specifically relates to the use of kernel-mode exploits to gain elevated privileges. The 0x8000E038 IOCTL represents a specific function control code that when improperly handled can lead to memory corruption, allowing attackers to manipulate the execution flow of the driver and ultimately execute malicious code with the highest system privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to bypass standard security controls and gain complete system compromise without requiring additional attack vectors. Once an attacker achieves SYSTEM-level access through this exploit, they can perform actions such as installing malware, modifying system files, accessing sensitive data, and creating persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects all versions of Bitdefender Total Security 21.0.24.62 and potentially other versions within the same product line, making it a widespread concern for organizations running this security software. The exploit requires local access but provides remote code execution capabilities, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user accounts may be compromised through other means.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected Bitdefender software versions, implementing strict access controls to limit user privileges, and monitoring for unusual driver activity or IOCTL calls that may indicate exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider deploying additional security layers such as kernel-mode driver integrity checking, application whitelisting, and behavioral monitoring solutions to detect anomalous activities. Organizations should follow the principle of least privilege and ensure that user accounts have minimal necessary permissions to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation in kernel-mode drivers and underscores the need for security testing of device drivers before deployment, as outlined in industry standards for secure coding practices and vulnerability management protocols.