CVE-2018-18090 in Graphics Driver
Summary
by MITRE
Out of bounds read in igdkm64.sys 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 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable denial of service via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18090 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the Intel Graphics Driver for Windows, specifically affecting the igdkm64.sys kernel module. This issue manifests in versions prior to 10.18.x.5059, 10.18.x.5057, 20.19.x.5063, 21.20.x.5064, and 24.20.100.6373, with the affected driver versions corresponding to Intel Graphics Driver releases 15.33.x, 15.36.x, 15.40.x, 15.45.x, and 15.47.x respectively. The vulnerability resides in the graphics kernel driver component that manages hardware acceleration and graphics processing operations on Intel integrated graphics platforms.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation within the kernel-mode driver code where memory access operations exceed valid buffer boundaries. When processing certain graphics commands or data structures, the igdkm64.sys module fails to properly validate array indices or buffer sizes before accessing memory locations. This condition allows an authenticated user to craft malicious input that triggers memory access beyond allocated boundaries, potentially causing unpredictable behavior in the kernel execution environment. The out-of-bounds read occurs during graphics processing operations that involve buffer management and command parsing within the kernel space.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables a local authenticated user to potentially cause a denial of service condition within the graphics subsystem. While the exploit requires local system access and authentication, the impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it can lead to system instability, application crashes, or even complete system hangs. The vulnerability's nature as a kernel-mode issue means that successful exploitation could potentially escalate privileges or provide a foothold for further attacks, though the immediate impact is primarily denial of service. The affected systems remain vulnerable until the driver is updated to a patched version that implements proper bounds checking.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array indices, and can be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1068, involving exploit for privilege escalation. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a classic kernel memory corruption issue that can be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where graphics processing is heavily utilized. The impact is significant for organizations relying on Intel integrated graphics solutions, as it affects systems that may be running critical applications or services that depend on graphics acceleration. Organizations should prioritize patch management and driver updates to mitigate this vulnerability, as the patched versions implement proper bounds checking mechanisms and input validation to prevent the out-of-bounds read conditions.