CVE-2018-18535 in Aura Sync
Summary
by MITRE
The Asusgio low-level driver in ASUS Aura Sync v1.07.22 and earlier exposes functionality to read and write Machine Specific Registers (MSRs). This could be leveraged to execute arbitrary ring-0 code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18535 resides within the Asusgio low-level driver component of ASUS Aura Sync software version 1.07.22 and earlier. This driver interface provides direct hardware access capabilities that were not properly secured or restricted, creating a significant security exposure within the system's privilege model. The flaw represents a critical design oversight in how hardware abstraction layers handle sensitive system operations, particularly those involving low-level processor registers that are typically protected from user-mode applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the driver's exposure of Machine Specific Register (MSR) access functionality without adequate privilege validation or access controls. MSRs are specialized processor registers that control critical system behaviors including power management, performance monitoring, and security features. When a driver exposes these capabilities to unprivileged processes, it essentially provides a pathway for user-mode applications to manipulate processor-level settings that should only be accessible to kernel-mode code or privileged system components. This design flaw aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management in software systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation. An attacker with local access could leverage this exposure to execute arbitrary code at ring-0 privileges, effectively bypassing all standard operating system security mechanisms. This capability enables malicious actors to manipulate system memory, disable security features, install rootkits, or perform other malicious activities that would normally be impossible from user-mode execution contexts. The vulnerability essentially provides a direct pathway to system compromise, making it particularly dangerous in environments where local access is possible.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation through kernel exploitation and persistence mechanisms. The ability to read and write MSRs opens opportunities for attackers to modify processor security features, potentially disabling features like Intel's SGX or other hardware-based protections. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it operates below the level of traditional security monitoring tools, making detection difficult. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of broader threat modeling exercises, especially for systems running older versions of ASUS Aura Sync software where the driver remains exposed.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate software updates to versions that properly restrict MSR access through the Asusgio driver interface. System administrators should also implement runtime monitoring to detect unusual MSR access patterns and consider privilege restrictions on the affected driver components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure driver development practices and proper privilege separation in system software. Additionally, organizations should review their overall driver security posture and ensure that all low-level hardware interfaces are properly validated and restricted to prevent similar exposures in other system components.