CVE-2018-19086 in Malware Fighter
Summary
by MITRE
RegFilter.sys in IOBit Malware Fighter 6.2 is susceptible to a stack-based buffer overflow when an attacker uses IOCTL 0x8006E040 with a size larger than 8 bytes. This can lead to denial of service or code execution with root privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19086 resides within the RegFilter.sys kernel driver component of IOBit Malware Fighter version 6.2, representing a critical stack-based buffer overflow condition that fundamentally compromises system security. This flaw manifests specifically when the vulnerable driver processes IOCTL (Input/Output Control) command 0x8006E040, which is designed to interact with registry filter functionality. The vulnerability occurs because the driver fails to properly validate the size parameter of incoming data structures, allowing an attacker to supply malicious input exceeding the allocated 8-byte buffer space on the stack.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, where insufficient bounds checking permits data to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations. When an attacker sends an IOCTL request with a payload larger than 8 bytes, the driver's processing routine does not perform adequate size validation before copying data into the fixed-size buffer. This condition creates a predictable memory corruption scenario where the attacker can overwrite return addresses, function pointers, and other critical stack variables. The vulnerability's exploitation potential escalates significantly due to the driver's elevated privileges, as kernel-mode components typically execute with the highest system privileges, providing attackers with root-level access to the target system.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-19086 extends beyond simple denial of service to encompass full system compromise capabilities. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to achieve code execution with kernel-level privileges, enabling them to bypass standard operating system security mechanisms, escalate privileges, install persistent backdoors, or extract sensitive system information. The denial of service aspect manifests when the buffer overflow corrupts critical kernel memory structures, potentially causing system crashes, blue screens of death, or complete system instability. Given that IOBit Malware Fighter is designed as an anti-malware solution, the exploitation of this vulnerability creates a particularly dangerous scenario where attackers can compromise security tools that are specifically intended to protect against such threats.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-19086 should prioritize immediate vendor patching, as IOBit has released updates to address this vulnerability. System administrators should implement defensive measures including kernel patch protection, driver signature enforcement, and monitoring for suspicious IOCTL activity patterns. The vulnerability's characteristics make it susceptible to detection through behavioral analysis tools that monitor for anomalous driver behavior or unexpected memory access patterns. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege configurations and maintaining updated security software can reduce the attack surface. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as the flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify and block malicious IOCTL requests targeting vulnerable drivers, particularly in environments where legacy software versions may not be immediately patchable.