CVE-2017-17701 in K7
Summary
by MITRE
K7Sentry.sys 15.1.0.59 in K7 Antivirus 15.1.0309 has a NULL pointer dereference via a 0x950025c8 DeviceIoControl request.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17701 affects K7Sentry.sys driver version 15.1.0.59 within K7 Antivirus software suite. This represents a critical NULL pointer dereference flaw that occurs when processing DeviceIoControl requests with the specific IOCTL code 0x950025c8. The issue manifests in the kernel-mode driver component of the antivirus solution, which is responsible for system-level protection and monitoring activities. The vulnerability exists within the device driver's input validation mechanisms, where insufficient checks are performed on incoming IOCTL requests before attempting to dereference pointers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves sending a malicious DeviceIoControl request with the specified IOCTL code to the K7Sentry.sys driver. When the driver processes this request, it attempts to access a pointer that has not been properly initialized or validated, resulting in a NULL pointer dereference. This condition causes the driver to crash and potentially leads to system instability or denial of service. The flaw demonstrates poor defensive programming practices and lacks proper null pointer validation before memory access operations. According to CWE classification, this corresponds to CWE-476 NULL Pointer Dereference, which is a common vulnerability pattern that can lead to system crashes and potential privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it represents a potential entry point for more sophisticated attacks. Attackers could leverage this NULL pointer dereference to cause system instability, leading to service disruption or system crashes that affect endpoint security. The vulnerability affects systems running K7 Antivirus version 15.1.0309 and potentially other versions within the same release cycle, making it relevant for organizations that have not yet updated their security solutions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1068, as it represents an untrusted input vulnerability that could be exploited to gain system-level access or cause system instability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of the K7 Antivirus software to the latest version that addresses this specific NULL pointer dereference issue. System administrators should also implement monitoring for suspicious DeviceIoControl activity and ensure that only trusted processes can interact with the driver. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing runtime protections such as kernel-mode exploit protection and driver signature enforcement to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and defensive programming practices in kernel-mode drivers, as outlined in security standards and best practices for secure software development.