CVE-2018-18714 in Malware Fighter
Summary
by MITRE
RegFilter.sys in IOBit Malware Fighter 6.2 and earlier is susceptible to a stack-based buffer overflow when an attacker uses IOCTL 0x8006E010. This can lead to denial of service (DoS) or code execution with root privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18714 resides within the RegFilter.sys kernel driver component of IOBit Malware Fighter version 6.2 and earlier. This driver serves as a critical system filter responsible for monitoring and controlling registry access operations, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability manifests through improper input validation within the driver's handling of DeviceIoControl requests, specifically when processing IOCTL code 0x8006E010. This particular IOCTL interface exposes a stack-based buffer overflow condition that can be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized system access.
The technical flaw represents a classic stack buffer overflow vulnerability classified under CWE-121, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack. When the vulnerable driver receives a specially crafted IOCTL request with excessive input data, the kernel-mode code fails to validate the buffer size before copying data into a fixed-size stack buffer. This memory corruption can result in arbitrary code execution with kernel-level privileges, effectively granting attackers complete system control. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the kernel space, bypassing standard user-mode security controls and protections.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass full system compromise. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute malicious code with SYSTEM privileges, potentially leading to persistent backdoor installation, data exfiltration, or further exploitation of the compromised system. The vulnerability affects systems running vulnerable versions of IOBit Malware Fighter, creating a persistent threat vector that could be exploited by both skilled attackers and automated malware. Organizations relying on this security software face significant risk as the exploit can be triggered through legitimate driver communication channels, making detection and prevention challenging.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of IOBit Malware Fighter to version 6.3 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this buffer overflow vulnerability. System administrators should also implement kernel-mode exploit protection mechanisms including driver signature enforcement, kernel address space layout randomization, and exploit protection features available through modern Windows security frameworks. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious DeviceIoControl activity and implementing least privilege principles for driver installations can help reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Local Privilege Escalation' through kernel exploits, and T1543, which covers 'Create or Modify System Process' by enabling persistent access through driver manipulation. Organizations should also consider implementing behavioral monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous kernel-level activity patterns associated with buffer overflow exploitation attempts.