CVE-2018-10796 in Security Guard
Summary
by MITRE
In 2345 Security Guard 3.7, the driver file (2345NetFirewall.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 0x00222014.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10796 affects the 2345 Security Guard 3.7 software suite, specifically targeting the kernel-mode driver component known as 2345NetFirewall.sys. This driver serves as a critical security component responsible for network firewall operations within the software ecosystem. The flaw manifests through improper input validation mechanisms within the driver's handling of IOCTL (Input/Output Control) requests, specifically when processing the control code 0x00222014. The vulnerability represents a classic example of inadequate validation in kernel-mode components, which can lead to severe system stability issues and potential security implications.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the driver's failure to properly validate input parameters received through the specified IOCTL interface. When local users submit crafted input data to the driver through IOCTL 0x00222014, the system does not perform adequate sanitization or bounds checking on the received parameters. This lack of validation creates a condition where malformed or unexpected input values can cause the driver to behave unpredictably. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level where privilege escalation opportunities exist, and the driver's improper handling of input can lead to system crashes or other unstable behaviors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions. While the primary effect manifests as a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) resulting from the system crash, the potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that more serious consequences could occur. The local privilege escalation aspect means that attackers with limited user access could potentially leverage this vulnerability to gain elevated system privileges or disrupt critical system operations. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-129 indicates improper validation of input boundaries, while its potential for privilege escalation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers exploit for privilege escalation. The impact on system availability is significant as the BSOD condition effectively renders the affected system unusable until manual intervention or system reboot occurs.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate software updates from the vendor, as the most effective solution involves patching the driver component to implement proper input validation. System administrators should ensure that all instances of 2345 Security Guard are updated to versions that address this specific flaw. Additionally, implementing monitoring for unusual IOCTL activity and system crashes can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of kernel-mode security testing and proper input validation practices. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as driver signature enforcement and restricted user access to minimize the attack surface. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updated drivers to ensure compatibility with existing system configurations while addressing the underlying validation issues that allowed this vulnerability to persist.