CVE-2018-6778 in Jiangmin
Summary
by MITRE
In Jiangmin Antivirus 16.0.0.100, the driver file (KSysCall.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 0x9A008268.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6778 affects Jiangmin Antivirus version 16.0.0.100 and resides within the kernel-mode driver component known as KSysCall.sys. This represents a critical security flaw that demonstrates poor input validation practices within the antivirus software's kernel-level operations. The vulnerability specifically manifests through improper handling of input values received via IOCTL (Input/Output Control) command 0x9A008268, which is a standard mechanism used by Windows drivers to communicate with user-mode applications. The absence of proper validation creates a pathway for malicious or unintended input to cause system instability or unexpected behavior within the kernel space.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it firmly within the realm of kernel-mode exploitation, where improper input handling can lead to severe system consequences. When a local user submits malformed input to the IOCTL 0x9A008268 command, the KSysCall.sys driver fails to validate the data structure or parameters before processing them. This lack of validation can result in memory corruption, invalid memory access, or other kernel-level errors that ultimately trigger a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) or system crash. The vulnerability's classification as a denial of service issue indicates that an attacker can reliably cause system instability, while the "possibly have unspecified other impact" suggests potential for more severe consequences including privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution in certain circumstances.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on Jiangmin Antivirus 16.0.0.100, as local users with minimal privileges can exploit this flaw to disrupt system operations. The attack vector requires only local system access, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user access controls may be insufficient or where insider threats exist. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple service disruption, as kernel-level instability can compromise the entire system's integrity and potentially provide attackers with opportunities to escalate privileges or establish persistent access. The BSOD condition effectively renders the system unusable until manual intervention or system restart occurs, creating operational downtime and potential data loss scenarios.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of inadequate input validation in kernel-mode components, which aligns with CWE-707 and CWE-129 categories related to improper input validation and buffer overflows. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves the exploitation of local system privileges to gain elevated access. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including patching the antivirus software to a version that properly validates IOCTL inputs, implementing network segmentation to limit local user access, and monitoring for unusual system crashes or BSOD occurrences that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, system administrators should consider disabling unnecessary kernel-mode drivers when possible and ensure comprehensive logging of driver interactions for security monitoring purposes.