CVE-2018-6779 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 0x9A008240.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6779 affects Jiangmin Antivirus version 16.0.0.100 and represents a critical security flaw within the kernel-mode driver component KSysCall.sys. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the driver's implementation, specifically when processing IOCTL (Input/Output Control) requests with the code 0x9A008240. The flaw exists at the kernel level where the driver fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters received from user-mode applications, creating a pathway for malicious input manipulation that can lead to system instability. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation as classified by CWE-20, which is a fundamental weakness in software design that allows attackers to inject malformed data into system components. The specific IOCTL code 0x9A008240 represents a communication channel between user-mode processes and kernel-mode drivers, and the absence of validation checks means that any parameter passed through this interface can potentially be exploited. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the kernel level where privileges are elevated and system stability is paramount. The security implications extend beyond simple denial of service as the vulnerability could potentially be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks that exploit the kernel execution environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability manifests primarily through system crashes and blue screen of death (BSOD) conditions that occur when malicious input is processed by the vulnerable driver. Local users who can execute code on the target system can exploit this flaw to trigger kernel-level exceptions that force the operating system to crash and reboot automatically. This denial of service condition effectively renders the affected system unusable until manual intervention occurs to either disable the vulnerable driver or apply a patch. The potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that beyond simple system crashes, the vulnerability could enable privilege escalation or information disclosure scenarios, though these are not explicitly detailed in the original description. The attack vector is local in nature, meaning that an attacker must already have user-level access to the system to exploit this vulnerability, but the kernel-level execution context provides significant leverage for further exploitation attempts. This vulnerability represents a classic example of how kernel-mode driver flaws can be leveraged to compromise entire system environments, as the kernel is the core component that manages system resources and enforces security policies. The lack of proper input validation creates an attack surface where malformed or malicious input can cause unpredictable behavior in system-critical components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-6779 should focus on immediate patching of the Jiangmin Antivirus software to address the input validation deficiencies in the KSysCall.sys driver. System administrators should ensure that all antivirus and security software components are kept up to date with the latest security patches and updates from vendors. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper kernel-mode security practices and input validation, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 for local privilege escalation and T1499 for endpoint denial of service. Organizations should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual system crashes or BSOD occurrences that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, security professionals should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of unauthorized kernel-mode drivers and ensure that only trusted security software operates at kernel level. The vulnerability highlights the need for robust code review processes and security testing of kernel-mode components, particularly in security software where the attack surface is expanded due to the elevated privileges required for effective threat detection and mitigation. Network segmentation and privilege separation should be implemented to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar input validation flaws in other system components, as this represents a common pattern in kernel-mode security vulnerabilities that can be exploited to achieve unauthorized system access and control.