CVE-2018-3608 in Maximum Security 2018
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in Trend Micro Maximum Security's (Consumer) 2018 (versions 12.0.1191 and below) User-Mode Hooking (UMH) driver could allow an attacker to create a specially crafted packet that could alter a vulnerable system in such a way that malicious code could be injected into other processes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3608 resides within Trend Micro Maximum Security Consumer version 12.0.1191 and earlier releases, specifically affecting the User-Mode Hooking (UMH) driver component. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that stems from improper input validation and privilege escalation mechanisms within the security software's kernel-mode driver. The UMH driver is designed to monitor and intercept user-mode application calls, but the vulnerability creates an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to manipulate system behavior through crafted network packets.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a buffer over-read condition that occurs when the UMH driver processes specially crafted network packets. When the driver receives malformed input data, it fails to properly validate the packet structure before processing, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities. The vulnerability exists because the driver lacks proper bounds checking mechanisms when handling user-supplied data from network packets.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to endpoint security as it allows attackers to inject malicious code into legitimate processes running with elevated privileges. The attacker can leverage this condition to escalate privileges from standard user-level access to system-level control without requiring direct exploitation of the target system. This capability enables persistent threats to establish footholds within networks and maintain long-term access to compromised endpoints. The attack vector requires only network-based packet delivery, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely without physical access to the target system.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it effectively undermines the core security posture of systems protected by Trend Micro Maximum Security. Once exploited, attackers can manipulate process execution flows, potentially bypassing other security controls and defenses. This represents a significant deviation from the expected security model where endpoint protection software should enhance system security rather than create exploitable entry points. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper driver validation and input sanitization in security software, as the very tools designed to protect systems can become attack vectors when not properly secured.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-3608 should include immediate patching of Trend Micro Maximum Security to version 12.0.1192 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the UMH driver vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network-based monitoring to detect and block suspicious packet patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1055 for process injection techniques, and T1068 for local privilege escalation. Additional defensive measures include restricting network access to systems running vulnerable versions and implementing application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized code execution. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected Trend Micro products that may share similar driver architectures.