CVE-2018-12219 in Graphics Driver
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient input validation in Kernel 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 read memory via local access via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2020
This vulnerability resides in the kernel mode driver component of Intel Graphics Drivers for Windows systems, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the fundamental security boundaries between user-mode and kernel-mode execution environments. The issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the graphics driver's kernel component, which fails to properly sanitize or validate data inputs received from user applications. This deficiency creates a potential attack surface where malicious or unprivileged local users can exploit the vulnerability to perform unauthorized memory reads from kernel-space memory regions. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Intel's graphics driver ecosystem, specifically targeting versions prior to 10.18.x.5059, 10.18.x.5057, 20.19.x.5063, 21.20.x.5064, and 24.20.100.6373, indicating a widespread impact across various driver releases and their corresponding version numbering schemes. The vulnerability is classified as a privilege escalation vector that allows local users to bypass normal access controls and potentially access sensitive kernel memory that should remain protected from user-level processes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the inherent trust relationship between user-mode applications and kernel-mode drivers in Windows operating systems. When applications interact with the graphics driver through standard APIs, they pass parameters and data structures that should be validated before being processed in kernel context. The insufficient validation allows attackers to craft malicious inputs that can cause the driver to read arbitrary memory locations, potentially exposing sensitive information such as kernel memory addresses, security credentials, or other confidential data. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-125: "Out-of-bounds Read" and CWE-20: "Improper Input Validation" within the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, highlighting the dual nature of the flaw where both memory access violations and input sanitization failures contribute to the security compromise. The attack requires only local system access, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by any user account on the system, regardless of administrative privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-12219 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the memory protection mechanisms that are essential for operating system security. Successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise by allowing attackers to extract kernel memory contents that may contain sensitive data structures, cryptographic keys, or other critical system information. The vulnerability's presence in graphics drivers is particularly concerning because these components are frequently accessed by various applications and system services, increasing the attack surface and potential exploitation vectors. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001: "Command and Scripting Interpreter" and T1068: "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" as attackers can leverage the memory read capabilities to gather information about system internals or to identify additional vulnerabilities. The local access requirement means that exploitation does not require network connectivity or remote attack vectors, making it a persistent threat within compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must focus on immediate driver updates and system hardening measures. Organizations should prioritize updating to the latest Intel graphics driver versions that contain patches for this vulnerability, specifically targeting the version numbers mentioned in the advisory. System administrators should implement the principle of least privilege, ensuring that user accounts have minimal necessary permissions to reduce the potential impact of exploitation. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious memory access patterns and implementing runtime protection mechanisms such as kernel address space layout randomization (KASLR) and control flow integrity (CFI) can help detect or prevent exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of graphics driver components and comprehensive vulnerability scanning should be integrated into security operations to identify similar issues in other kernel-mode components. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all system components, as graphics drivers often remain overlooked in routine update cycles despite their critical role in system security.