CVE-2018-6206 in Anti Virus
Summary
by MITRE
In Max Secure Anti Virus 19.0.3.019,, the driver file (MaxProtector32.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 0x220011.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6206 resides within Max Secure Anti Virus version 19.0.3.019 where the kernel-mode driver component MaxProtector32.sys fails to properly validate input parameters received through IOCTL (Input/Output Control) command 0x220011. This driver operates at the kernel level and serves as a critical security component responsible for system protection mechanisms, making the absence of proper input validation a severe concern for system stability and security. The flaw exists in the driver's handling of user-supplied data without adequate sanitization or verification processes, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by local attackers with minimal privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the driver's failure to perform proper parameter validation when processing the specific IOCTL request 0x220011. This IOCTL command is designed to communicate between user-mode applications and the kernel-mode driver, allowing for various system operations to be executed through the driver interface. When malicious or malformed input data is passed to this command, the driver processes it without sufficient checks, leading to potential buffer overflows, memory corruption, or invalid memory access patterns. The vulnerability manifests as a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) due to kernel-mode memory corruption, but could potentially allow for more sophisticated attacks depending on the nature of the input manipulation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to system availability and stability. Local users can trigger a system crash simply by sending specially crafted input to the vulnerable IOCTL interface, resulting in immediate denial of service conditions that require system reboot to resolve. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no elevated privileges beyond standard user access, making it accessible to any local user with minimal technical expertise. The potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that beyond simple system crashes, the vulnerability might enable privilege escalation or information disclosure scenarios, though these remain unconfirmed in the public reports.
The vulnerability maps to CWE-125 Out-of-bounds Read and CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, as the driver's improper input validation leads to memory access violations. From the MITRE ATT&CK framework perspective, this represents a local privilege escalation technique through kernel-mode exploitation, potentially falling under the T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation tactic. The attack surface is limited to systems running the specific vulnerable version of Max Secure Anti Virus, but given the nature of kernel-mode vulnerabilities, any successful exploitation could provide attackers with elevated system privileges and persistent access to the compromised system.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the vulnerable software to the latest version that addresses the driver validation issues. Organizations should implement strict access controls to limit local user privileges and disable unnecessary driver interfaces where possible. System monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual IOCTL activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments of endpoint protection software should include kernel-mode driver analysis to identify similar validation flaws. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation in kernel-mode components and demonstrates how seemingly minor oversights in driver development can result in significant system stability and security impacts.