CVE-2018-5277 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 0x9c40e000.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5277 resides within the Malwarebytes Premium 3.3.1.2183 security software, specifically within its kernel-mode driver component known as FARFLT.SYS. This driver operates at the highest privilege level within the Windows operating system, making it a critical component that requires robust input validation to prevent exploitation. The flaw manifests through improper handling of input values received via the IOCTL (Input/Output Control) command with the identifier 0x9c40e000, which is a mechanism used by user-mode applications to communicate with kernel-mode drivers. The absence of proper input validation creates a pathway for malicious actors to craft specially crafted input parameters that can trigger unexpected behavior within the driver's execution context.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of input boundaries, and represents a classic case of insufficient input sanitization in kernel-mode code. When a local user submits malformed input to the IOCTL 0x9c40e000 command, the driver fails to validate the parameters before processing them, leading to potential buffer overflows, memory corruption, or other undefined behaviors. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because kernel-mode drivers execute with system-level privileges, meaning that any successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service, as the description indicates potential for unspecified other impacts, suggesting that the malformed input could potentially be leveraged to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for systems running the affected Malwarebytes Premium version, as local users who can submit crafted IOCTL commands can trigger a blue screen of death (BSOD) that results in system crashes and denial of service conditions. The local privilege requirement means that attackers must already have access to the system to exploit this vulnerability, but the potential for privilege escalation remains a serious concern. The vulnerability's presence in a security tool like Malwarebytes is particularly concerning because it creates a potential attack surface that adversaries could leverage to bypass security controls. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation and T1490 for endpoint denial of service, as it enables an attacker to cause system instability and potentially gain higher privileges.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2018-5277 involves immediate patching of the Malwarebytes Premium software to version 3.4.0.2184 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes for the FARFLT.SYS driver. System administrators should also implement monitoring for suspicious IOCTL activity and consider restricting local user access to potentially vulnerable system components. Additionally, organizations should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify any other instances of similar input validation flaws within their security toolchain, as kernel-mode drivers represent high-value targets for exploitation. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation in kernel-mode code and serves as a reminder that even security tools can contain exploitable flaws that could be leveraged by determined attackers to compromise system integrity.