CVE-2018-12211 in Graphics Driver
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient input validation 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
This vulnerability resides within the user mode driver component of Intel's graphics driver for windows operating systems, representing a critical weakness in the driver's input validation mechanisms. The flaw affects multiple versions of the graphics driver including 10.18.x series with build numbers 5059 and 5057, 20.19.x series with build 5063, 21.20.x series with build 5064, and 24.20.100.6373, with the affected versions corresponding to Intel graphics driver versions 15.33.x, 15.36.x, 15.40.x, 15.45.x respectively. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied inputs within the graphics driver's user mode component, creating an exploitable condition that allows local attackers to manipulate driver behavior through crafted input data.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a classic example of how inadequate sanitization of input parameters can lead to system instability. When an unprivileged user executes local commands against the graphics driver, the driver fails to properly validate the input parameters passed to its user mode components, potentially leading to memory corruption or unexpected behavior that manifests as denial of service conditions. This flaw operates at the boundary between user mode and kernel mode execution contexts, where user mode drivers must maintain strict validation to prevent escalation of privileges or system instability. The vulnerability's impact is limited to local access scenarios, meaning an attacker must already have a valid user account on the target system to exploit this weakness.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-12211 creates significant risk for systems running vulnerable Intel graphics drivers, as it provides a vector for denial of service attacks that can disrupt normal graphics functionality and potentially impact system stability. While the vulnerability does not directly enable privilege escalation, it can effectively render the graphics subsystem unusable, forcing users to restart applications or reboot systems to restore normal functionality. The attack surface is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where graphics performance and system availability are critical, as this vulnerability can be leveraged to cause service disruption without requiring elevated privileges. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1068, which involves local privilege escalation techniques, though the current vulnerability specifically targets denial of service rather than privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on updating to patched versions of the Intel graphics driver, with administrators needing to ensure all systems are updated to versions that address this specific input validation weakness. The recommended approach involves deploying the latest Intel graphics driver updates that contain fixes for the input validation flaws in the user mode driver components. Organizations should also implement monitoring for unusual graphics driver behavior and consider disabling unnecessary graphics features that might increase the attack surface. System administrators should prioritize patching this vulnerability as part of their regular security maintenance procedures, particularly in environments where graphics functionality is critical to business operations. Additional defensive measures include implementing least privilege principles to limit user access to graphics-related functionality and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify other potential input validation weaknesses in graphics driver components and related software stacks.