CVE-2017-16237 in VirIT eXplorer
Summary
by MITRE
In Vir.IT eXplorer Anti-Virus before 8.5.42, the driver file (VIAGLT64.SYS) contains an Arbitrary Write vulnerability because of not validating input values from IOCtl 0x8273007C.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-16237 resides within Vir.IT eXplorer Anti-Virus software version 8.5.41 and earlier, specifically targeting the VIAGLT64.SYS kernel driver component. This represents a critical security flaw that enables attackers to execute arbitrary write operations within the system's kernel space, fundamentally compromising the integrity and security of the protected environment. The vulnerability manifests through improper input validation mechanisms within the driver's handling of IOCTL (Input/Output Control) requests, specifically when processing the 0x8273007C command code.
The technical flaw stems from the driver's failure to validate input parameters provided by user-mode applications when issuing the designated IOCTL request. This lack of input sanitization creates a path for malicious actors to manipulate memory locations directly within kernel space through crafted input data. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-787, which describes "Out-of-bounds Write" conditions that occur when a program writes data past the boundaries of a fixed-length buffer. The flaw essentially allows attackers to write arbitrary data to any memory location accessible to the kernel driver, potentially enabling privilege escalation, system compromise, or denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with direct kernel-level memory manipulation capabilities that can be leveraged for persistent system compromise. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to modify critical system structures, inject malicious code into kernel space, or manipulate security-relevant data structures within the anti-virus driver itself. This represents a severe threat vector that undermines the fundamental security model of the anti-virus software, which is designed to protect the system from malicious code execution. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where anti-virus solutions are widely deployed.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation through the installation of Vir.IT eXplorer Anti-Virus version 8.5.42 or later, which includes proper input validation for the affected IOCTL handler. System administrators should also implement additional protective measures including kernel-mode driver signature enforcement, application whitelisting, and monitoring for unusual kernel memory access patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in kernel drivers and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Local Privilege Escalation" through kernel exploits. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms that can detect and prevent unauthorized kernel memory modifications, as well as conducting thorough security assessments of all kernel-mode components within their security infrastructure to identify similar validation flaws.