CVE-2018-6626 in Proactive Defense Software
Summary
by MITRE
In Micropoint proactive defense software 2.0.20266.0146, the driver file (mp110005.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 0x80000035.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6626 affects Micropoint proactive defense software version 2.0.20266.0146, specifically targeting the mp110005.sys driver component. This represents a critical security flaw that exposes the system to potential denial of service conditions and unspecified impacts through improper input validation mechanisms. The issue manifests within the driver's handling of IOCTL (Input/Output Control) operations, specifically when processing the control code 0x80000035 which is a standard Windows kernel interface mechanism for device communication.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the driver's failure to validate input parameters received through the specified IOCTL interface. This validation gap creates an opportunity for local attackers to craft malicious input sequences that can trigger unexpected behavior within the kernel-mode driver. When the driver receives unvalidated input data, it processes these values without proper bounds checking or sanitization, leading to potential memory corruption or system instability. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, Input Validation, and CWE-125, Out-of-Bounds Read, as the driver lacks proper boundary checks for user-supplied data. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it can potentially escalate to system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as local users can potentially trigger blue screen of death (BSOD) scenarios that render the entire system unusable. The unspecified other impacts suggest that beyond the immediate system crash, there may be additional security implications including potential privilege escalation or data integrity compromise. The vulnerability affects systems running the specific version of Micropoint proactive defense software, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where this software is deployed. Attackers with local access can exploit this weakness to disrupt system operations, potentially causing service interruptions, data loss, or creating opportunities for further exploitation. This vulnerability represents a classic example of how kernel-mode drivers can create systemic security risks when proper input validation is omitted.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-6626 should focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by the vendor, as the vulnerability exists within the driver's code structure itself. System administrators should implement the latest security patches from Micropoint to address the input validation deficiencies in the mp110005.sys driver. Additional protective measures include implementing least privilege principles to limit local user access, monitoring for suspicious IOCTL activity, and employing kernel-mode protection mechanisms. Organizations should also consider deploying endpoint protection solutions that can detect anomalous driver behavior and potentially prevent exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1068, Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, and T1490, Inhibit System Recovery, as it can be leveraged to disrupt system availability and potentially gain elevated privileges. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper kernel-mode security practices and highlights the need for comprehensive driver security testing and validation before deployment in production environments.