CVE-2017-6007 in SurfRight HitmanPro
Summary
by MITRE
A kernel pool overflow in the driver hitmanpro37.sys in Sophos SurfRight HitmanPro before 3.7.20 Build 286 (included in the HitmanPro.Alert solution and Sophos Clean) allows local users to crash the OS via a malformed IOCTL call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6007 represents a critical kernel pool overflow condition affecting the Sophos SurfRight HitmanPro software ecosystem. This flaw exists within the device driver component named hitmanpro37.sys which is part of the HitmanPro.Alert solution and Sophos Clean software suites. The vulnerability manifests specifically in versions prior to 3.7.20 Build 286, creating a significant security risk that impacts the stability and integrity of affected systems. The flaw occurs at the kernel level where memory management mechanisms fail to properly validate input parameters, creating an exploitable condition that can be triggered through legitimate system interfaces.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the driver's IOCTL (Input/Output Control) handling mechanism. When a local user crafts a malformed IOCTL call and submits it to the vulnerable driver, the system's memory allocation process becomes compromised. The driver fails to perform adequate bounds checking on user-supplied data, allowing an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations within the kernel pool. This memory corruption results in unpredictable system behavior and ultimately leads to operating system crashes or potential system instability. The vulnerability specifically targets the kernel pool memory management subsystem, where buffer overflows can cause severe operational disruptions.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6007 extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors. Local privilege escalation remains a significant concern as the memory corruption could theoretically be exploited to execute arbitrary code within kernel space. The vulnerability affects systems running the affected Sophos software versions, making organizations using these security tools particularly vulnerable to denial of service attacks. From a cybersecurity perspective, this flaw represents a classic example of insufficient input validation that violates fundamental security principles. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and potentially CWE-122 for heap-based buffer overflows, though the specific implementation targets kernel pool memory rather than traditional stack or heap allocations.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is limited to local users who have access to the system and can execute code with sufficient privileges to interact with the vulnerable driver interface. However, the potential for privilege escalation makes this a particularly dangerous flaw in environments where local access might be compromised. Security analysts should note that the vulnerability exists in software components that are commonly deployed in enterprise environments, making it a significant concern for organizations using Sophos security solutions. The flaw demonstrates the importance of proper kernel driver security practices and input validation, as even minor oversights in memory management can create substantial system stability issues.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6007 focus primarily on updating to the patched version 3.7.20 Build 286 or later, which addresses the underlying memory corruption issue in the hitmanpro37.sys driver. Organizations should also implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit potential exploitation by restricting local user access to vulnerable systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security software versions and conducting regular security assessments of installed software components. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability relates to privilege escalation techniques and system exploitation methods, making it relevant to both defensive and offensive security operations. The flaw serves as a reminder of the critical importance of kernel-level security and proper memory management practices in security software development.