CVE-2018-6633 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 0x80000038.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6633 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 security implications. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the driver's implementation, particularly concerning IOCTL (Input/Output Control) command 0x80000038. The driver fails to properly validate data received from user-mode applications, creating an attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to compromise system stability and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation" as a fundamental weakness in software security. When the mp110005.sys driver processes IOCTL 0x80000038 requests, it does not perform adequate sanitization or validation of the input parameters provided by local users. This lack of validation allows attackers to craft malicious input sequences that can trigger unexpected behavior within the kernel-mode driver. The consequence of this flaw manifests as a blue screen of death (BSOD) condition, indicating that the operating system has encountered a critical error that requires immediate system termination. The unspecified other impacts suggest potential for privilege escalation or information disclosure, though the exact scope remains undetermined due to limited public analysis of the specific attack vectors.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations utilizing Micropoint proactive defense software, particularly in environments where system stability and continuous operation are critical. Local users with minimal privileges can potentially disrupt system operations, leading to service interruptions and productivity losses. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no elevated privileges to execute, making it accessible to any user account on the system. The vulnerability's presence in a security software component creates a dangerous paradox where the defensive tool becomes a potential attack vector. This flaw also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," as the improper input handling could potentially be leveraged to escalate privileges within the system.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-6633 primarily involve immediate software updates from the vendor, as the flaw exists within the driver's core functionality and cannot be resolved through configuration changes alone. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems running affected software receive updates promptly. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit local user privileges where possible. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in kernel-mode drivers, as highlighted by CWE-129 and CWE-787, which address issues related to buffer overflows and out-of-bounds writes. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in system calls related to the affected IOCTL command, as this could indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing behavioral analysis tools that can identify anomalous driver behavior indicative of exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on kernel-mode activities that could lead to system instability or privilege escalation.