CVE-2017-17804 in Ikarus
Summary
by MITRE
In IKARUS Anti-Virus 2.16.20, the driver file (ntguard.SYS) allows local users to cause a denial of service (BSOD) or possibly have unspecified other impact because of not validating input values from IOCtl 0x83000084.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17804 resides within the IKARUS Anti-Virus 2.16.20 security software, specifically within its kernel-mode driver component ntguard.SYS. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the device driver's implementation. The vulnerability manifests through the IOCTL 0x83000084 control code, which is used to communicate with the driver from user-space applications. When malicious or malformed input data is passed to this specific IOCTL handler, the driver fails to properly validate the incoming parameters, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by local attackers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, Input Validation, and CWE-755, Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions, as the driver does not adequately sanitize or validate input parameters before processing them. The lack of proper input validation creates a pathway for privilege escalation and system instability, as the driver's response to malformed input can result in kernel-mode crashes. This condition typically manifests as a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) when the kernel encounters invalid memory access patterns or corrupted data structures during processing of the unvalidated IOCTL parameters.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to system availability and integrity within environments where IKARUS Anti-Virus is deployed. Local attackers who can execute code on the target system can exploit this flaw to either induce system crashes that result in denial of service conditions or potentially achieve more severe impacts including privilege escalation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at kernel level, meaning successful exploitation can compromise the entire system security posture. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the BSOD conditions can be used to hide malicious activities or to create persistent access points through system instability.
The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1068, Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, and T1499, Endpoint Denial of Service, as it enables both system instability and potential privilege escalation. The vulnerability's local nature means that exploitation does not require network connectivity or complex attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous in environments where local access is possible. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper kernel-mode input validation and the potential consequences of inadequate defensive measures in anti-virus driver implementations. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability through the official IKARUS update channels and implement monitoring for unusual BSOD patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of vendor-provided patches, implementation of kernel-mode protection mechanisms such as Driver Signature Enforcement and Windows Kernel Mode Code Signing, and enhanced monitoring of system crash dumps for patterns consistent with this vulnerability. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing least privilege principles to limit local user access and deploy behavioral monitoring solutions to detect anomalous IOCTL usage patterns. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical security considerations required when developing and deploying kernel-mode drivers, particularly within security software where the attack surface is already expanded due to the privileged execution environment.