CVE-2018-6770 in Jiangmin
Summary
by MITRE
In Jiangmin Antivirus 16.0.0.100, the driver file (KrnlCall.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 0x99008210.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6770 resides within the Jiangmin Antivirus software version 16.0.0.100, specifically within its kernel-mode driver component known as KrnlCall.sys. This driver operates at the highest privilege level within the Windows operating system, making it a critical component that requires robust input validation mechanisms. The flaw manifests through an insufficient validation mechanism for input parameters received through IOCTL 0x99008210, which is a custom device control code used for communication between user-mode applications and the kernel-mode driver. The absence of proper input validation creates a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the driver's interface without proper authorization checks, potentially leading to system instability or compromise. This vulnerability represents a classic example of improper input validation that can be categorized under CWE-20, which specifically addresses improper input validation in software systems. The security implications extend beyond simple denial of service as the vulnerability could potentially allow for privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution within the kernel context, making it particularly dangerous for system security.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of IOCTL 0x99008210 parameters that are processed by the KrnlCall.sys driver. When local users submit malformed or unexpected input values through this control interface, the driver fails to properly validate these inputs before processing them, leading to potential buffer overflows, memory corruption, or other exploitable conditions. The Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) represents the most immediate and visible consequence of this vulnerability, as the kernel-mode driver crashes when encountering invalid input data, causing the entire operating system to halt. However, the potential impact extends beyond simple system crashes, as the lack of input validation may allow for more sophisticated attacks that could leverage the kernel execution context for privilege escalation or information disclosure. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires local system access, but once achieved, the attacker could potentially gain elevated privileges within the kernel space, representing a significant security risk.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-6770 affects organizations that deploy Jiangmin Antivirus 16.0.0.100 across their network infrastructure, particularly in environments where system stability and uptime are critical. The vulnerability's potential for causing system crashes can result in significant downtime and productivity loss, especially in enterprise environments where multiple systems may be simultaneously affected. Additionally, the possibility of unspecified other impacts suggests that the vulnerability may enable more serious security breaches that could compromise sensitive data or provide attackers with footholds for further exploitation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as privilege escalation and defense evasion, as attackers could potentially use the driver's kernel-level access to establish persistent access or hide their activities within the system. The vulnerability also represents a failure in the principle of least privilege, as the driver operates with elevated privileges without proper input sanitization, creating an attack surface that should be minimized according to security best practices.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-6770 should focus on immediate remediation through vendor-provided patches or updates that address the input validation issues within the KrnlCall.sys driver. Organizations should prioritize patch management procedures to ensure that all instances of Jiangmin Antivirus 16.0.0.100 are updated to versions that contain proper input validation mechanisms. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as driver signature enforcement and kernel-mode protection mechanisms to prevent unauthorized driver loading or modification. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper kernel-mode security practices and the necessity of thorough input validation at all levels of system software. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous driver behavior or unauthorized access attempts to kernel-mode interfaces, as these could indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for outdated antivirus drivers that may contain similar validation flaws, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar threats in the future.