CVE-2018-3611 in Graphics Driver
Summary
by MITRE
Bounds check vulnerability in User Mode Driver in Intel Graphics Driver 15.40.x.4 and 21.20.x.x allows unprivileged user to cause a denial of service via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2020
This vulnerability exists within the user mode driver component of Intel Graphics Drivers version 15.40.x.4 and 21.20.x.x, representing a critical bounds check failure that compromises system stability. The flaw manifests when the graphics driver fails to properly validate input parameters during processing of graphics commands, creating a condition where malicious or unintended input can cause the driver to access memory outside of its allocated bounds. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 category of "Improper Validation of Array Index" and specifically aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service, though in this case the impact occurs locally within the operating system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an unprivileged local user to exploit the bounds check failure by crafting specific graphics operations that trigger memory access violations. When the user mode graphics driver processes these malformed inputs, it can cause the driver to crash or enter an unstable state, resulting in a denial of service condition that affects the graphics subsystem and potentially the entire operating environment. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the user mode level, meaning that even standard user accounts can potentially trigger system instability without requiring elevated privileges or administrative rights.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for system availability and user experience within environments that rely heavily on Intel graphics processing. The denial of service condition can manifest as complete graphics driver failures, system freezes, or unexpected reboots, particularly affecting desktop environments, virtualized systems, or any platform where Intel graphics drivers are actively utilized. Organizations running these affected driver versions face potential service disruptions, especially in enterprise environments where graphics performance and system stability are critical for productivity applications and user workflows.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate driver updates from Intel to address the bounds check implementation issues. System administrators should implement patch management processes to ensure all affected Intel graphics drivers are updated promptly, particularly in environments where multiple users may have access to potentially malicious or untrusted graphics applications. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for unusual graphics driver behavior, implementing user access controls to limit graphics processing privileges, and maintaining regular system backups to facilitate recovery from potential service disruption events. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime application control measures to prevent exploitation of known vulnerable driver interfaces while awaiting official patches. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in graphics driver code and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of graphics subsystem components to prevent similar issues in future implementations.