CVE-2018-3970 in HitmanPro.Alert
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable memory disclosure vulnerability exists in the 0x222000 IOCTL handler functionality of Sophos HitmanPro.Alert 3.7.6.744. A specially crafted IRP request can cause the driver to return uninitialized memory, resulting in kernel memory disclosure. An attacker can send an IRP request to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-3970 represents a critical memory disclosure flaw within Sophos HitmanPro.Alert 3.7.6.744, specifically within its kernel-mode driver component. This issue manifests through the 0x222000 IOCTL handler functionality, which serves as a communication interface between user-mode applications and the kernel driver. The flaw allows an attacker to exploit uninitialized memory contents that are inadvertently exposed during driver processing, creating a potential pathway for information disclosure attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level, where sensitive system data and credentials could potentially be accessed through this memory disclosure mechanism.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the IOCTL handler implementation. When a specially crafted IRP (I/O Request Packet) request is submitted to the driver, the system fails to properly initialize memory buffers before returning data to user-space applications. This uninitialized memory may contain remnants of previous operations, system information, or sensitive data that was previously stored in those memory locations. The flaw falls under CWE-1347, which specifically addresses improper handling of uninitialized memory in kernel-mode drivers. The vulnerability operates through the Windows kernel's I/O subsystem, where the driver's IOCTL handler processes requests without adequate memory sanitization, leading to information leakage that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates opportunities for sophisticated attack vectors that could lead to privilege escalation or further system compromise. An attacker who successfully triggers this memory disclosure could potentially extract kernel memory contents that might include sensitive data such as cryptographic keys, system pointers, or other confidential information. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges since it operates through legitimate IOCTL interfaces, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user-mode applications have access to kernel-mode driver interfaces. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.003, which involves abuse of Windows Management Instrumentation for privilege escalation, though the specific mechanism here involves direct kernel memory exposure rather than WMI abuse.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-3970 should focus on both immediate patching and operational security measures. The primary recommendation is to update Sophos HitmanPro.Alert to versions that address this memory disclosure vulnerability, as the vendor would have implemented proper memory initialization practices within the IOCTL handler. Organizations should also implement monitoring for unusual IRP request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly targeting the 0x222000 IOCTL code. Additional security measures include restricting access to the vulnerable driver interface through proper access control lists and implementing kernel-mode driver isolation techniques. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in kernel drivers, as highlighted by the principle of least privilege and secure coding practices outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks including NIST SP 800-171 and ISO/IEC 27001. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of kernel-mode components and implement defensive measures such as kernel address space layout randomization and control flow integrity to reduce the overall attack surface and potential impact of such memory-related vulnerabilities.