CVE-2018-5271 in Anti-Malware
Summary
by MITRE
In Malwarebytes Premium 3.3.1.2183, the driver file (FARFLT.SYS) allows local users to cause a denial of service (BSOD) or possibly have unspecified other impact because of not validating input values from IOCtl 0x9c40e008.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5271 resides within the Malwarebytes Premium 3.3.1.2183 software suite, specifically within its kernel-mode driver component known as FARFLT.SYS. This driver operates at a privileged level within the Windows operating system, making it a critical component for system security operations. The flaw manifests through improper input validation mechanisms when processing IOCTL (Input/Output Control) requests, particularly targeting the specific IOCTL code 0x9c40e008. This represents a fundamental failure in the driver's security architecture, where it fails to properly sanitize or validate data received from user-mode applications before processing these requests. The vulnerability exists at the intersection of kernel-mode and user-mode execution contexts, creating a potential attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors with local system access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the driver's failure to validate input parameters associated with the specified IOCTL command. When a local user application sends a crafted IOCTL request to the FARFLT.SYS driver, the driver processes the request without adequate validation checks. This lack of input sanitization creates multiple potential attack vectors, including the possibility of triggering a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) through malformed input data. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, Input Validation, and CWE-131, Incorrect Calculation of Buffer Size, as the driver does not properly validate the size or content of incoming data structures. The absence of proper bounds checking and parameter validation allows malicious input to potentially overwrite memory regions or trigger invalid memory access patterns that result in system crashes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it represents a potential pathway for more severe security incidents. Local users with minimal privileges can leverage this flaw to either crash the system through BSOD conditions or potentially achieve arbitrary code execution depending on the nature of the input validation bypass. The vulnerability's classification as a local privilege escalation vector means that even users without administrative rights could potentially exploit this weakness to gain elevated privileges. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1068, Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, and T1059, Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables local users to execute malicious code through driver manipulation. The impact is particularly concerning given that Malwarebytes Premium is designed as an endpoint protection solution, making the compromised system vulnerable to further exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5271 should focus on immediate software updates and system hardening measures. The most effective solution involves upgrading to a patched version of Malwarebytes Premium that addresses the input validation issues within the FARFLT.SYS driver. System administrators should implement the principle of least privilege, ensuring that only authorized users have access to systems running vulnerable versions of the software. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious IOCTL activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing driver signature enforcement and disabling unnecessary driver services can reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper kernel-mode driver security practices and demonstrates the critical need for thorough input validation in privileged system components. Organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and maintain updated threat intelligence to identify similar weaknesses in other security software components.