CVE-2017-15302 in CPU-Z
Summary
by MITRE
In CPUID CPU-Z through 1.81, there are improper access rights to a kernel-mode driver (e.g., cpuz143_x64.sys for version 1.43) that can result in information disclosure or elevation of privileges, because of an arbitrary read of any physical address via ioctl 0x9C402604. Any application running on the system (Windows), including sandboxed users, can issue an ioctl to this driver without any validation. Furthermore, the driver can map any physical page on the system and returns the allocated map page address to the user: that results in an information leak and EoP. NOTE: the vendor indicates that the arbitrary read itself is intentional behavior (for ACPI scan functionality); the security issue is the lack of an ACL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15302 affects CPUID CPU-Z versions through 1.81 and represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the kernel-mode driver component cpuz143_x64.sys. This issue stems from improper access control mechanisms that allow any user-level application to interact with the driver through ioctl 0x9C402604 without proper authentication or authorization checks. The root cause lies in the absence of access control lists or security descriptors that should normally validate which processes or users can access specific driver functionalities. According to industry standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-284 Access Control, specifically the lack of proper access control validation for kernel-mode components. The driver's design permits arbitrary reads of any physical address on the system, creating a fundamental security weakness that bypasses normal operating system protection mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to include full privilege escalation capabilities that can be exploited by malicious actors. Any application running on the Windows system, including those operating within sandboxed environments or restricted user contexts, can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to physical memory locations. The driver's capability to map arbitrary physical pages and return the allocated map page addresses creates a direct information leak channel that can expose sensitive system data, including kernel memory structures, encryption keys, or other confidential information. This behavior directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1056.001 Credential Access: Input Capture, where adversaries can access system-level information that would normally be protected from user-space applications. The vendor's acknowledgment that the arbitrary read functionality was intentionally implemented for ACPI scanning purposes creates a dangerous precedent where legitimate functionality becomes a security vector due to insufficient access controls.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient privilege separation in kernel-mode drivers, where the security boundary between user-space and kernel-space has been compromised. The lack of proper access control validation means that even applications running with minimal privileges can execute potentially destructive operations against system memory. This flaw enables attackers to read memory contents that should be protected from casual access, including potentially sensitive data that could be used for further exploitation or to gain deeper system control. The vulnerability essentially transforms a legitimate system diagnostic tool into a potential weapon for information gathering and privilege escalation. From a cybersecurity perspective, this represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and demonstrates how the absence of proper access controls in kernel-mode components can create severe security implications that affect the entire system integrity. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it operates below the level of traditional security controls, making it difficult to detect and prevent through conventional means.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15302 should focus on immediate driver updates from the vendor, which would implement proper access control mechanisms and ACL validation for ioctl operations. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that prevent unauthorized execution of CPU-Z or similar diagnostic tools. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious driver access patterns and implementing proper system integrity validation can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive security reviews for kernel-mode components and reinforces the need for proper access control implementation in all system-level drivers. Organizations should also consider implementing memory protection mechanisms and regular security assessments to identify similar access control weaknesses in other system components. The incident serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining proper security boundaries between user-space and kernel-space operations, particularly when dealing with system diagnostic and monitoring tools that may have elevated system privileges.