CVE-2017-17050 in Vir.IT eXplorer Lite
Summary
by MITRE
TG Soft Vir.IT eXplorer Lite 8.5.42 allows local users to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a NULL value in a 0x82730020 DeviceIoControl request to \\.\Viragtlt.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17050 resides within TG Soft Vir.IT eXplorer Lite version 8.5.42, a security tool designed for malware detection and analysis. This particular flaw manifests as a NULL pointer dereference condition that can be triggered through a specifically crafted DeviceIoControl request with the control code 0x82730020 directed toward the device path \.\Viragtlt. The vulnerability represents a classic example of improper input validation where the software fails to adequately check for NULL values before attempting to dereference pointers, creating a potential pathway for system instability or more severe consequences.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs at the kernel level through the Windows DeviceIoControl interface, which is commonly used by drivers and system utilities to communicate with device drivers. When a local attacker sends a malicious DeviceIoControl request containing a NULL value, the eXplorer Lite driver processes this input without proper validation, leading to a situation where a NULL pointer is dereferenced. This type of error falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-476, which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference vulnerabilities. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only local user privileges, making it accessible to any user with access to the system, including potentially unprivileged accounts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as the description suggests potential for unspecified other impacts. A successful exploitation could result in system crashes, application instability, or in more severe scenarios, provide a foothold for privilege escalation attacks. The NULL pointer dereference creates an execution flow that leads to a system crash or kernel panic, effectively rendering the affected system unstable and potentially unusable. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving privilege escalation and denial of service, specifically mapping to T1068 for local privilege escalation and T1499 for network denial of service. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign driver interfaces can become attack surfaces when proper input validation is absent.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-17050 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The most effective immediate solution involves updating to a patched version of TG Soft Vir.IT eXplorer Lite, as the vendor has likely addressed this vulnerability in subsequent releases. System administrators should also implement least privilege principles, ensuring that only authorized users have access to the affected software and its associated device interfaces. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of exploitation, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual DeviceIoControl activity patterns. Additionally, implementing driver signature enforcement and kernel-mode code integrity checks can prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future, as these mechanisms help ensure only trusted code executes at the kernel level.