CVE-2018-6476 in SUPERAntiSpyware Professional Trial
Summary
by MITRE
In SUPERAntiSpyware Professional Trial 6.0.1254, the SASKUTIL.SYS driver allows privilege escalation to NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM because of not validating input values from IOCtl 0x9C402114 or 0x9C402124 or 0x9C40207c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6476 resides within the SUPERAntiSpyware Professional Trial version 6.0.1254 and specifically targets the SASKUTIL.SYS kernel driver component. This driver operates at the kernel level within the Windows operating system, making it a critical security component that requires stringent input validation. The flaw manifests through three specific IOCTL (Input/Output Control) function codes 0x9C402114, 0x9C402124, and 0x9C40207c which are used for communication between user-mode applications and the kernel-mode driver. These IOCTL handlers fail to properly validate input parameters, creating a pathway for malicious code to exploit the system's privilege escalation mechanisms.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow conditions, though the specific implementation appears to involve improper input validation rather than traditional buffer overflows. The root cause lies in the driver's failure to sanitize or validate data received through these IOCTL interfaces, allowing an attacker to craft malicious input that can manipulate kernel memory structures. When these IOCTL functions receive unvalidated input, they can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the highest system privileges, effectively granting an attacker complete control over the affected system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and directly corresponds to the ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes "Local Privilege Escalation" through the exploitation of kernel vulnerabilities. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can achieve privilege escalation to NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM, the highest privilege level in Windows systems. This elevated access allows the attacker to bypass all standard security controls, modify system files, install malicious software, access all user data, and establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects systems running the specific trial version of SUPERAntiSpyware, making it particularly concerning for organizations that may have deployed this software in their environments without proper patching or updates.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-6476 should focus on immediate remediation through official vendor patches, which were released to address the input validation flaws in the SASKUTIL.SYS driver. Organizations should implement the latest version of SUPERAntiSpyware Professional or consider alternative security solutions that have been verified to not contain similar kernel-level vulnerabilities. System administrators should also apply the principle of least privilege, ensuring that user accounts operate with minimal necessary permissions to reduce the potential impact of exploitation. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious IOCTL activity and implementing kernel-mode exploit detection mechanisms can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in kernel-mode drivers, as highlighted in the Microsoft Security Development Lifecycle guidelines and aligns with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework's emphasis on protecting against advanced persistent threats through proper system hardening and vulnerability management practices.