CVE-2018-12210 in Graphics Driver
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple pointer dereferences in User Mode Driver in Intel(R) Graphics Driver for Windows* before versions 10.18.x.5059 (aka 15.33.x.5059), 10.18.x.5057 (aka 15.36.x.5057), 20.19.x.5063 (aka 15.40.x.5063) 21.20.x.5064 (aka 15.45.x.5064) and 24.20.100.6373 potentially enables an unprivileged user to cause a denial of service via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-12210 represents a critical flaw in Intel's graphics driver implementation affecting multiple versions of their Windows graphics stack. This issue manifests as multiple pointer dereferences within the user mode driver component, which operates with elevated privileges to manage graphics processing tasks. The affected driver versions include various releases from the 10.18.x, 20.19.x, 21.20.x, and 24.20.x series, with specific build numbers indicating the scope of impacted software. The vulnerability exists in the user mode driver portion of Intel's graphics stack, which serves as an intermediary between application processes and the underlying graphics hardware, making it a crucial component for system stability and security.
The technical nature of this flaw involves improper validation of pointer values within the driver's memory management routines. When user applications or processes interact with graphics functions, the driver's user mode component receives requests that must be processed through memory pointers. However, the driver fails to properly validate these pointers before dereferencing them, creating opportunities for malformed or malicious pointer values to cause system crashes. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-476 category of NULL Pointer Dereference, which is a common weakness in software development where programs attempt to access memory locations through null or invalid pointers. The flaw specifically affects the graphics driver's ability to handle user-supplied data or graphics commands that may contain corrupted pointer references, leading to system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes, as it enables a local unprivileged user to potentially cause a denial of service condition. While the vulnerability requires local access to exploit, it does not require administrative privileges, making it particularly concerning for environments where multiple users share systems or where privilege escalation vectors may exist. The denial of service can manifest as complete system hangs, graphics subsystem failures, or application crashes that prevent normal graphics processing operations. This affects not only gaming and multimedia applications but also productivity software that relies on graphics acceleration, potentially rendering systems unusable for extended periods. The vulnerability's presence in multiple driver versions suggests a systemic issue in the driver's memory management implementation rather than an isolated bug.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Intel graphics driver versions to the latest available releases that contain the necessary fixes. Organizations should prioritize updating their systems to versions 10.18.x.5059, 10.18.x.5057, 20.19.x.5063, 21.20.x.5064, and 24.20.100.6373 or newer, as these contain the fixed pointer validation routines. System administrators should also implement monitoring for unusual graphics driver behavior or system crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts. From a security perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 for local privilege escalation and T1499 for endpoint denial of service, as it enables local users to compromise system availability. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as driver signature enforcement, application whitelisting, and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of similar driver-based vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in kernel and driver components, as failures in this area can lead to system-wide instability and availability issues.