CVE-2018-6593 in AntiMalware
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in MalwareFox AntiMalware 2.74.0.150. Improper access control in zam32.sys and zam64.sys allows a non-privileged process to register itself with the driver by connecting to the filter communication port and then using IOCTL 0x8000204C to \\.\ZemanaAntiMalware to elevate privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6593 represents a critical improper access control flaw within MalwareFox AntiMalware version 2.74.0.150. This issue manifests through the driver components zam32.sys and zam64.sys which are part of the Zemana AntiMalware kernel-mode driver architecture. The flaw stems from insufficient authorization checks during driver communication, specifically within the filter communication port mechanism that governs interactions between user-mode applications and kernel-mode drivers. This design oversight creates a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's privilege escalation mechanisms through legitimate driver interfaces.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a specific IOCTL (Input/Output Control) operation with code 0x8000204C targeting the device path \.\ZemanaAntiMalware. This particular IOCTL allows a non-privileged user-mode process to register itself with the kernel driver without proper authentication or authorization verification. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284 as Improper Access Control, specifically within the context of kernel-mode driver interfaces where the system fails to properly validate the privileges of processes attempting to interact with protected driver functionalities. The flaw essentially allows any user process to assume the elevated privileges of the driver itself, effectively bypassing standard Windows security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching within the Windows security ecosystem. A malicious actor could leverage this privilege escalation mechanism to gain kernel-level access to the compromised system, enabling complete system compromise without requiring administrative privileges or physical access. This creates a significant risk for endpoint security, as it allows attackers to bypass traditional security controls including User Access Control, application whitelisting, and other endpoint protection measures. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire system since kernel-level access provides unrestricted access to all system resources, memory, and hardware components. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) and T1547.001 (Registry Run Keys/Startup Folder), as it enables persistent access through privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from system administrators and security teams. The primary recommendation involves updating MalwareFox AntiMalware to a patched version that properly implements access control checks for driver communication interfaces. Organizations should also implement monitoring for unusual driver communication patterns and unauthorized IOCTL operations targeting the ZemanaAntiMalware device. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of potentially malicious processes that might attempt to exploit this vulnerability. The underlying principle of least privilege should be enforced through proper driver access controls, ensuring that only authorized processes can interact with kernel-mode driver interfaces. System administrators should also conduct thorough security audits of all installed security software to identify similar improper access control vulnerabilities in third-party applications that may expose similar attack vectors through their driver components.