CVE-2017-16553 in K7
Summary
by MITRE
K7 Antivirus Premium before 15.1.0.53 allows local users to gain privileges by sending a specific IOCTL after setting the memory in a particular way.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2019
CVE-2017-16553 represents a local privilege escalation vulnerability affecting K7 Antivirus Premium versions prior to 15.1.0.53. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of IOCTL (Input/Output Control) requests within the antivirus software's kernel-mode drivers, creating a dangerous condition where local attackers can manipulate system privileges. The flaw operates through a specific memory manipulation technique that allows an attacker to craft malicious IOCTL requests that bypass normal security checks and elevate their execution context from standard user to system-level privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of a kernel-mode driver component that processes IOCTL commands without adequate validation of input parameters. When a local user sends a specific IOCTL request after strategically manipulating memory regions, the driver fails to properly validate the request parameters, leading to arbitrary code execution in kernel space. This memory manipulation technique leverages the driver's insufficient boundary checking and input validation mechanisms, allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory structures or manipulate function pointers within the driver's execution context. The vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and more specifically relates to CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds write conditions in kernel-mode components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables local attackers to achieve system-level privileges without requiring administrative credentials or complex exploitation techniques. Once successfully exploited, the attacker gains complete control over the affected system, allowing for persistent access, data exfiltration, and further network reconnaissance. This privilege escalation capability makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where antivirus software is often installed with elevated privileges. The exploitability requires local access to the target system but does not necessitate network connectivity, making it a low-effort, high-impact attack vector. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1068, which covers local privilege escalation, and T1059, which involves command and scripting interpreter usage in kernel contexts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-16553 primarily focus on updating to the patched version of K7 Antivirus Premium 15.1.0.53 or later, which addresses the improper IOCTL handling and memory validation issues. System administrators should also implement least privilege principles by running antivirus software with minimal required privileges and regularly audit driver installations. Additional protective measures include monitoring for suspicious IOCTL activity patterns, implementing kernel-mode protection mechanisms such as Windows Driver Verifier, and conducting regular security assessments of antivirus components. Organizations should also consider deploying endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify anomalous driver behavior indicative of privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation in kernel-mode drivers and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws can result in critical security breaches.